What is a possible side effect of long-term systemic steroid use?

Long-term systemic steroid use is known to significantly increase the risk of developing cataracts. This occurs because steroids can lead to changes in the eye's lens, promoting the development of opacities that characterize cataracts. These opacities can gradually impair vision, making cataract formation one of the most common ocular side effects observed with prolonged steroid therapy.

While other eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinal detachment can also be associated with various factors, they are not as directly linked to systemic steroid use as cataracts are. Glaucoma can indeed be a concern for some individuals on long-term steroids, but the formation of cataracts is a more prevalent and well-documented complication of steroid therapy, particularly with systemic and high-dose use. Therefore, cataracts are recognized as one of the primary side effects resulting from extended steroid treatment.