Diagnosing glaucoma in pediatric aphakia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cataracts pose a serious threat to the visual system in infants and children, requiring prompt surgical intervention and rehabilitation to optimize visual development. Glaucoma is a serious complication following cataract surgery in infants and can lead to loss of vision. Early diagnosis of glaucoma, however, can be quite challenging in these patients. CASE REPORTS: Three cases are presented in which comeal edema was the initial presenting sign that led to the diagnosis of glaucoma during routine contact lens follow-up examinations for pediatric aphakia. CONCLUSION: The contact lens practitioner, during the course of management of aphakic infants and children, should always be suspicious of glaucoma as a complication of cataract surgery, and the presenting sign may be corneal edema.