Glaucoma in Children | Development of Glaucoma in Kids and Toddlers

Posted on March 31, 2010 by TDR in Eye Health

Childhood glaucoma is characterized by the high eye fluid pressure that cause damage to the optic nerve and could result to permanent loss of vision. When the three mentioned criteria are present it is certain that the child has glaucoma; and, the presence of any of the three criteria could be a symptom of the disease.

Developmental Glaucoma among Kids

The first classification of glaucoma children is developmental glaucoma. It is subdivided into primary congenital glaucoma or PCG; juvenile open-angle glaucoma or JOAG; developmental glaucoma associated with systemic diseases; and, developmental glaucoma with associated ocular anomalies.

Primary congenital glaucoma among children is characterized by increased intraocular pressure; edema; globe enlargement; iris atrophy; cornea becomes opaque; anterior sclera thins; and, Descemet’s membrane rupture. Its symptoms include photophobia or fear of light; decrease in visual acuity; and, excessive flow of tears. It is typically diagnosed during the first year of life of the child and could continue if it remains untreated. This classification is composed of the following:

  • Juvenile congenital glaucoma
  • Infantile congenital glaucoma
  • Newborn congenital glaucoma

Juvenile open-angle glaucoma among children is brought about by impairment in the drainage of fluid out of the eyes.

Extracellular tissues of abnormal thickness and amount are deposited between the Schlemm canal and the anterior chamber of the eyes. It is usually difficult to detect because no external indications would show this condition. This congenital ailment is associated with a gene called myocilin.

Developmental glaucoma among children associated with systemic diseases comes with different diseases. Some of these diseases are:

  • Sturge-Weber syndrome, where a child has this rare disorder at birth and bears a port-wine birthmark usually on the face and could suffer from neurologic problems
  • Stickler syndrome is a disorder that is brought about by genetic malfunction affecting the tissue that connects very important body parts such as the bones, ears, the heart, and eyes.
  • Rieger syndrome is a disorder when there is malformation or absence of teeth; and, abnormalities in the eyes and head

Developmental glaucoma among children with associated ocular anomalies includes the following but is not limited to them:

  • Aniridia, which is a disorder related to the abnormal growth of the iris
  • Peters Anomaly which is usually developed between the tenth and sixteenth weeks of the mother’s pregnancy and it affects the central cornea
  • Congenital macro cornea is characterized by the presence of abnormalities in the eyes

Acquired Glaucoma among Children

Non-congenital glaucoma among children is commonly associated to the following causes:

  • Trauma that could be caused by accidental falls or early age eye surgery
  • Intraocular neoplasm or commonly known as tumors or cancer
  • Chronic uveitis or the inflammation of the inner eye
  • Cataracts or the clouding of the irises

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