Congenital glaucoma, or primary infantile glaucoma, is a rare eye disease that can affect babies from birth and children up to 3 years of age, caused by abnormalities in the fluid drainage system in the eye, leading to its accumulation within the eye. eye and increased intraocular pressure, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss if left untreated.
Congenital glaucoma can be diagnosed through an eye test, carried out in the maternity ward, shortly after the baby is born, or during the first consultation with the pediatrician, to evaluate the structures of the eye. However, in places where there is no eye test, it is usually only detected around 6 months or even later, which can delay the start of treatment and increase the risk of complications. Find out how the eye test is performed.
The treatment of congenital glaucoma must be carried out under the guidance of an ophthalmologist, who may recommend the use of eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure and surgery to create a new fluid drainage system inside the eye, in order to avoid permanent damage to the optic nerve. which can cause complications such as blindness.
Main symptoms
Congenital glaucoma can affect one or both of the baby’s eyes and be present from birth or develop up to 3 years of age, and is generally noticed through symptoms such as:
- Excessive tearing;
- Eyelid twitching or excessive blinking;
- Sensitivity to light;
- Eye pain;
- Swelling or redness in the eye;
- Blurred vision.
Furthermore, due to increased pressure inside the eye and swelling in the cornea, the child may have large eyes.
In the presence of any of the symptoms, it is important to consult a pediatrician or ophthalmologist so that congenital glaucoma can be diagnosed and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The early diagnosis of congenital glaucoma is complicated, as the symptoms are considered non-specific and may vary according to the age at which symptoms appear and the degree of malformations.
Generally, the diagnosis of congenital glaucoma is made by the pediatrician through an eye test, still in the maternity ward, after the baby is born, but it can also be carried out during the baby’s first consultation after leaving the maternity ward.
In the case of suspected congenital glaucoma, or the appearance of symptoms that may appear up to 3 years of age, the pediatrician may refer the child to an ophthalmologist for a complete ophthalmological examination that includes measuring the pressure inside the eye. eye and examination of all parts of the eye, such as the cornea and optic nerve, for example. See the main tests recommended for glaucoma.
Learn more about glaucoma diagnosis in the following video:
Possible causes
Congenital glaucoma is caused by malformations in the fluid drainage system in the eye, called aqueous humor, which cannot be drained out of the eye, remaining accumulated inside the eye and, thus, intraocular pressure increases.
This increased pressure inside the eye can permanently damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss if not treated properly.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of congenital glaucoma must be carried out with guidance from an ophthalmologist to reduce the pressure inside the eye, and surgery is generally recommended, such as goniotomy, trabeculotomy or placement of intraocular fluid drainage prosthesis implants.
In some cases, the doctor may recommend the use of eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure before surgery. Discover the main eye drops to treat glaucoma.
It is important that treatment is carried out early, as this can prevent complications, such as blindness.
