Pediatric Glaucoma

What is pediatric glaucoma?

Pediatric glaucoma is a rare condition characterized by damage to the optic nerve and usually caused by elevated internal eye pressure (intraocular pressure). The optic nerve is responsible for sending vision from the eye to the brain.

Infantile or congenital glaucoma may be present from birth and is caused by problems in the development of the eye’s drainage system. The elevation in intraocular pressure that results can damage the optic nerve and cause severe vision loss. Juvenile glaucoma occurs in children older than age three  and is caused by other problems that can lead to increased eye pressure.

What are the symptoms of pediatric glaucoma?

Some of the most common symptoms of childhood glaucoma that our Nemours pediatric ophthalmologists look for are:

• excessive tearing
• sensitivity to light
• a dull-looking iris caused by clouding of the cornea 

How is pediatric glaucoma diagnosed and treated?

Although parts of the examination for glaucoma can be done in our office, diagnosing babies with glaucoma usually requires an examination under anesthesia in order to evaluate the intraocular pressure and other aspects of the condition. For older children with glaucoma, the complete examination may be done in our office.

Taking care of pediatric glaucoma may require both surgical and medical treatment. As with most childhood eye conditions, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the more promising the outcome.

You can find helpful information on childhood glaucoma from the Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association (PGCFA).