Glaucoma: heredity, retinopathy and corticosteroid use

[Ritz]

I'm seventeen and I've been on inhaled corticosteroids for asthma for just under six months. Because I've heard about increased risk of glaucoma from corticosteroid use, I have other questions about it.
I currently take 250 mcg of FloVent 2 puffs twice daily (totalling 1000 mcg/day).

I was born ten weeks premature, and have little vision in my left eye due to retinopathy of prematurity and scar tissue. My right eye is also highly damaged, although is corrected with very strong prescription glasses.

My dad also has retina issues, and glaucoma.

I'm curious about the heredity factors, as well as this combined with my inhaled corticosteroid use (especially in the long-term). Of course, because of all of the above, I do see an opthamologist annually.

Because of all this, am I at high risk for developing glaucoma?

[genysis]

Heredity definitely plays a significant role in glaucoma. Just because your father had glaucoma doesn't mean you will but if you inherited his genetics in regard to glaucoma then you probably will.

Also, corticosteroids have been shown to increase the incidence of cataract, BUT, inhaled steroids will not give you nearly as much blood concentration as oral or injected steroids. Oral and injected steroids will expose the lens of the eye to much higher concentrations of steroid. So, your risks of cataracts with inhaled is not nearly as great as with oral or injected.