[The real-time observation of anterior segment of primary congenital glaucoma]

To study the characteristics of primary congenital glaucoma in ultrasound biomicroscopy and discuss the pathogenic mechanism of primary congenital glaucoma.

Ten eyes of 6 congenital glaucoma patients and 7 eyes of 7 normal persons were examined using ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM).

UBM can show the dysplasia of anterior angle, iris, ciliary body and scleral spur of primary congenital glaucoma. The base of iris is thin, the ciliary body is small, and the anatomic characteristic is not clear. The thickness of iris and size of ciliary body of primary congenital glaucoma are significantly smaller than those of normal control group.

The results suggest UBM can inspect some part of eye where the normal examinations can not reach, e.g., ciliary body, the posterior surface of iris, etc. The characteristics of congenital glaucoma in UBM include thin iris, small ciliary body and unclear scleral spur. That suggests congenital glaucoma not only has dysplasia of anterior angle, but also has dysplasia of iris, ciliary body and scleral spur. The dysplasia of iris and ciliary body may play a relative important role in the pathogenic mechanism of congenital glaucoma.