Background: Ocular problems are related to patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) who use corticosteroids for long-term. They consist of ptosis, atrophy of the eyelid skin, keratitis, changes in the pigmentation of the macular area, and exacerbations of bacterial and viral infections. The precise prevalence, severity, and timing of the onset of these problems in the pediatric patient population have not yet been thoroughly investigated.Aim: This study aimed to estimate the burden of youngsters with nephrotic syndrome's eye problems on steroid therapy or after cessation of treatment. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatrc Nephrology Clinic in association with the Department of Ophthalmology Clinic, Zagazig University Children Hospital for ocular examination. We studied 48 children with primary nephrotic syndrome received corticosteroids either alone or with other treatment modalities for more than three months. Clinical signs, lab test findings, and a kidney biopsy were used to make the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome.
Results:The most frequent ocular manifestations were refractive errors in 38 patients (79.2%) followed by blepharitis in 26 patients (54.2%), then hypertrichosis in 25 (52.1%) of patients, and 12 (25%) of patients had repeated eye infection in the form of mucopurulent conjunctivitis. While, the least frequent manifestations were epiblepharon in 4 patients (8.30%) and ptosis in 3 patients (6.3%).
Conclusion:A sizable percentage of kids with nephrotic syndrome receiving long-term steroids experienced eye problems.