Primary Congenital (Infantile) Glaucoma

Overview

Primary congenital (infantile) glaucoma is a treatable cause of childhood blindness caused by a developmental abnormality of the trabecular meshwork, presenting with raised intraocular pressure in infancy. Most cases (about 80%) present within the first year of life and 70-80% are bilateral. It is a surgical disease — the optometrist's role is early recognition and urgent referral, because optic-nerve cupping is reversible in the elastic infant eye if treated early, whereas untreated disease progresses to irreversible blindness.