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Glaucoma

Glaucoma

Glaucoma

This a potentially vision threatening condition resulting from progressive damage to the “optic nerve” the nerve that takes visual information to the brain and enables sight. Glaucoma can be caused by various factors one method of monitoring glaucoma is checking the eye’s pressure. Another is by measuring one’s field of vision.
Childhood glaucoma is relatively rare. Primary congenital/ primary infantile glaucoma occurs in the general population at a rate of approximately 1 in 10,000 births. However, if a child has cataract surgery or one of the other conditions listed above, the incidence of glaucoma will be much higher. For example, 50% of patients with aniridia will develop glaucoma during their lifetime.
 
Some types of pediatric glaucoma are hereditary. About 10% of primary congenital/infantile glaucoma cases are inherited. Recent research has identified some specific gene mutations linked to this disease; for which genetic testing and counseling for affected families is may be available.

Other conditions that cause secondary glaucoma can be inherited. For example, neurofibromatosis and aniridia are dominantly inherited and are passed on to the children of affected individuals approximately 50% of the time. The incidence of glaucoma that occurs in association with these conditions, however, is less predictable.

Pediatric glaucoma is treated by lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) via medical and/or surgical means. Most cases of primary pediatric glaucoma are treated with surgery. Trabeculotomy and goniotomy, which open the drainage canals, are the most common surgical interventions. Other procedures create a bypass route for the aqueous (fluid made by the eye) to drain out of the eye.

Despite timely and aggressive treatment, pediatric glaucoma can still cause significant and permanent vision loss. Early diagnosis and treatment, as well as close monitoring are crucial for obtaining a long-term successful outcome.