Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that damage the nerve at the back of the eye (the optic nerve), resulting in loss of eyesight. The peripheral (side) vision is especially affected. If glaucoma is not treated, loss of vision may continue until a child is totally blind.
In children, glaucoma is often congenital, which means that it is present at birth. Infantile glaucoma is congenital glaucoma that may be fully developed at birth with enlarged eyes and hazy corneas, or may develop at any time before age two or three years. Juvenile glaucoma is congenital glaucoma that occurs in older children and young adults, but without any gross enlargement of the eyeball.
What Causes Glaucoma?
The causes of glaucoma are not well understood, but in many cases it is related to a build-up of pressure inside the eye. Pediatric glaucoma has several possible causes:
- Genetic
- Complications from cataract surgery (aphakic glaucoma),
- African ancestry
- Ocular inflammation (see iritis)
- Trauma
- Malformations of the eye
- Diseases that affect the rest of the body (such as diabetes, Lowe Syndrome, and congenital rubella)
What Are the Symptoms of Pediatric Glaucoma?
Congenital glaucoma is difficult to diagnose because a child under a year old cannot describe the symptoms. If the cornea in your child's eye appears cloudy, a congenital condition may be present. Babies are routinely checked for the disorder at birth, but if you suspect congenital glaucoma, see a pediatric ophthalmologist at once.
How Is Pediatric Glaucoma Treated?
Glaucoma can be easily detected during a comprehensive eye exam. Measuring the child's eye pressure may require sedation or local anesthesia.
Pediatric glaucoma usually responds well to treatment with medication. "Optic nerve cupping," a sign of glaucoma, may be reversible in children, in contrast to adults. Sometimes surgery is required to treat glaucoma.
If you suspect that your child may have glaucoma, please call us for an appointment, or use our online appointment request form.
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