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- The eyeball is bathed in a thin fluid called intraocular fluid or aqueous humor. There is a constant flow of this fluid in the eyeball between the posterior (rear) chamber of the eye, where it is produced, and the front or anterior chamber, via the pupil (which is a hole connecting the two chambers). Fluid is constantly being made and reabsorbed, draining from the eye through outflow channels. Glaucoma occurs when this flow is interrupted (or obstructed) and pressure builds, threatening to damage the optic nerve.
- Glaucoma is divided into two classifications according to the age of onset:
- Infantile (congenital) glaucoma (occurs within the first 3 years of life); and
- Juvenile glaucoma (occurs between the age of 3 and 30).
- Glaucoma may be the primary disease, or it may occur secondary to other eye diseases or systemic abnormalities.
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- Epiphora (tearing)
- Eye pain
- Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
- Blephrospasm (eyelid squeezing or unintended blinking)
- Cornea (front of eye) becomes cloudy
- Corneal and ocular enlargement
- Red Eye
- Blurred Vision with halos around lights
- Mal-development of the eye
- Eyeball becomes hard
- Occasionally, nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain
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- Tonometry (an in-office measuring device) reveals elevated intraocular pressure
- A corneal diameter of greater than 12.0mm in an infant
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- At higher risk is the child who has:
- Eye injury
- Intraocular hemorrhage
- Ocular inflammatory disease
- Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV)
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)
- Systemic disorders, such as Sturge-Weber syndrome, von Recklinghausen's disease, Marfan's Syndrome, congenital rubella
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- Surgery is the primary treatment for congenital and infantile glaucoma:
- Goniotomy
- Goniopuncture
- Trabeculotomy
- Trabeculectomy
- Cyclotherapy
- Medical therapy -- Low intraocular pressure achieved with medications:
- Acetazolamide
- Oral glycerol
- Mannitol intravenously
- Urea intravenously
- Pilocarpine 4%
- Treatment of associated conditions:
- Correction of refractory errors and amblyopia
- Treatment of complicating factors such as Cataracts
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- If you suspect your child has this condition he needs to see an ophthalmologist (medical eye doctor) very soon. Untreated, this condition will eventually lead to complete blindness.
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