Childhood glaucomas are rare
About one in 20,000 children will be born with glaucoma, or develop it in childhood.
The terms ‘Congenital, Infantile or Juvenile glaucoma’ are sometimes used for diagnosis after the age of three. In most cases, pediatric glaucoma is not diagnosed until after a child’s first birthday.
To understand how glaucoma affects the eye, it’s useful to understand the structure of the eye and how drainage in the eye works.
Find out moreHow is glaucoma in children treated?
If symptoms of high eye pressure are seen, the doctor may want to carry out a more detailed examination. Babies and children usually have to be examined under anaesthetic. If the eye pressure is found to be raised, they may carry out surgery at the same time to save further anaesthetic. Generally, a child can be examined without anaesthetic if they’re aged five and over.
Your ophthalmologist will provide you with more information about surgical treatments, medication and follow up.
Types of Glaucoma in Children
Primary congenital glaucoma
The most common glaucoma in babies and small children. It occurs when the eye hasn’t developed properly in the womb and this leads to issues with the flow of aqueous fluid out of the eye. If the fluid is unable to drain effectively, it builds up inside the eye and causes the eye pressure to rise. This causes stress to the optic nerve and may lead to permanent damage to vision. Glaucomas of this type often will run in families.
Secondary glaucomas
Secondary glaucomas in babies and children are usually the result of another condition. These include Axenfeld-Rieger’s Anomaly, where there may be developmental issues with various parts of the eye and Peter’s Anomaly where there are abnormal developments in the lens and cornea.
Glaucoma often follows cataract surgery in babies and young children. Cataract surgery replaces the lens in the eye if it has become cloudy, but the reason for the development of glaucoma after cataract surgery is still not well understood.
Glaucoma can also occur if the eye becomes inflamed for any reason, such as in children who have a childhood form of arthritis, as the drainage channels may get blocked with inflammatory cells.
Glaucoma can sometimes occur in children with other conditions such as aniridia in which there is no, or very little, development of the iris. Glaucoma can also occur in Sturge Weber Syndrome people with Sturge-Weber syndrome have a blood vessel birthmark on the face, often on the forehead, known as a port-wine stain. Children with these signs will need to be monitored for the development of glaucoma.
There are several genes and inheritance patterns in childhood glaucoma.
Find out more about risk factors
Signs and symptoms of childhood glaucoma
Large eyes – The outer coat of a child’s eye (the sclera) is much softer and more flexible than that of an adult. As a result, if the pressure rises in the eye, the eye may expand. The enlarged eye size is one of the important indicators of raised eye pressure in a baby or young child.
Sensitivity to light – children with raised eye pressure often become sensitive to light.
Cloudy eyes – If the pressure rises to a sufficient level, aqueous is pushed into the cornea making it waterlogged and cloudy. This clouding can clear if the pressure is reduced but this may take several months.
Poor vision and jerky eyes (nystagmus) – Occasionally, if raised pressure in the eye has caused clouding of the cornea or pressure on the head of the optic nerve (the small hole where the nerves leave the back of the eye), vision may be poorer than usual and there may be jerky movements of the eye. After treatment, most of these symptoms improve.
Squint (strabismus) – In some children, the eye with poorer vision may be seen to turn inwards or outwards.
Watering eyes – Watering is a natural response to any type of eye irritation. If the pressure is too high, there is glare from lights and some swelling of the cornea, and the natural reflex will be watering eyes. This should improve when the pressure in the eye is lowered.
Glaucoma in families – The majority of glaucoma in children is not obviously inherited. Families with a history of childhood glaucoma should consult a genetic counsellor or specialist in childhood glaucoma regarding the possibility of inheritance.
GNZ Paediatric Support Facebook Group
Connect with others who know and understand what you are going through by joining the Glaucoma NZ Paediatric Support Facebook Group.
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How to get help
Resources to support and guide those navigating their way through glaucoma.
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