ABSTRACT
Corticosteroid-induced glaucoma is a well-recognized phenomenon in adults, but not children. We describe an infant who developed juvenile glaucoma with buphthalmos while receiving systemic steroid treatment. The intraocular pressure normalized several months following discontinuation of treatment.
Subject(s)
Glucocorticoids/adverse effects , Hydrophthalmos/chemically induced , Intraocular Pressure/drug effects , Prednisolone/adverse effects , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Glaucoma Drainage Implants , Gonioscopy , Hemangioma, Capillary/drug therapy , Hemangioma, Capillary/pathology , Humans , Hydrophthalmos/drug therapy , Hydrophthalmos/surgery , Infant , Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy , Skin Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
Experimental glaucoma was produced in 50% of rabbit eyes by injecting 75 units of alphachymotrypsin into the posterior chamber. The elevation of intraocular pressure was stable, rarely exceeded 50 mm Hg, and lasted one year or longer. Progressive buphthalmos first appeared 2 to 3 weeks following injection of the enzyme. Ocular histologic changes included bullous keratopathy, iris and ciliary body atrophy, and cupping of the optic disc. The optic nerve became atrophic but no cavernous degeneration occurred. In the retina there was thinning of the nerve fiber layer and loss of ganglion cells with preservation of the other retinal elements. The mechanism leading to glaucoma following alphachymotrypsin injection is unclear. This study demonstrated formation of peripheral anterior synechiae and reduction of outflow facility within 2 weeks following injection and these factors may play a role.
