Pigment dispersion syndrome: A brief overview

Pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) is characterized by dispersion of pigment in the anterior chamber structures and can present with deposits on the central corneal endothelium or Krukenberg spindle, iris trans-illumination spoke-like defects, and increased pigmentation in the iridocorneal angle. It is more common in myopic patients with a predominance in young males in the third to fifth decade of life that affects about 1-2% of the population. PDS is a risk factor and can give lead to a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) and secondary glaucoma. Pigmentary glaucoma (PG) can develop from PDS in the presence of elevated IOP coupled with glaucomatous optic neuropathy, retinal nerve fiber thinning, and/or visual field defects. PDS and PG have the same clinical features, representing different levels of severity on the same clinical spectrum.

Early diagnosis, appropriate management, and follow-up of patients with PDS are important to prevent vision deterioration or blindness due to glaucomatous optic neuropathy.