Glaucoma in relation to trauma

ABSTRACT

Traumatic glaucoma may follow blunt and penetrating injuries of the eye. The glaucoma following injury can be early or may develop after some interval. Ocular inflammations, intraocular haemorrhage and other tissue damage may cause and accompany traumatic glaucoma following ocular injuries. Early or acute glaucoma is usually related to intraocular haemorrhages and acute inflammatory response of ocular tissue leading to peripheral anterior synechiae. Traumatic lens damage may result in rupture of the lens capsule releasing lens material into the enaterior chamber. The released lens material is engulfed by macrophages which block the trabecular meshwork producing phacolytic glaucoma. Traumatic recession of the angle of anterior chamber, traumatic vitreous haemorrhage, luxation and sub- luxation of the lens and retained intraocular foreign bodies are the main cause of late traumatic glaucoma. The treatment of traumatic glaucoma, early or late, requires detailed and careful study of the involved eye for correct evaluation of the cause of increased intraocular pressure and for choosing the appropriate medical or surgical therapy