Corticosteroids are invaluable therapeutic agents for treatment of ocular inflammation in small animal patients. The use of potent anti-inflammatory agents carries with it the risk of some side effects, however. Although some of these may be lessened by topical or subconjunctival administration, these routes are associated with specific ocular side effects about which the practitioner must be aware. With judicious use, corticosteroids remain a mainstay for the prevention and treatment of many painful and potentially blinding ocular diseases.