Incidence and prognosis of childhood glaucoma. A study of 63 cases

Sixty-three consecutive cases (95 eyes) of glaucoma in children were studied. Glaucoma associated with congenital anomalies (group II) formed the largest group in this study. This accounted for 46% of the cases compared to primary congenital glaucoma (group I) that accounted for 22.2%. Secondary glaucoma (group III) occurred in 31.8%. The presenting signs and symptoms in group I were tearing and corneal edema. In 50% of the cases in groups II and III, diagnosis was made on a routine ophthalmologic examination. Surgery was performed in 95.8% of eyes in group I, 53.2% in group II, and 54.2% in group III. The best visual prognosis occurred in group I where 77.3% of affected eyes had visual acuity equal to or better than 20/50 with good pressure control in all. This was followed by group II where 41.5% had vision equal to or better than 20/50 and 41.4% had 20/200 vision or less. Intraocular pressure remained uncontrolled in 19.1% of this group. The worst prognosis and morbidity was found in group III where 30.5% of eyes had 20/50 vision or better and 47.8% had 20/200 vision or less. In group III, 33.3% had uncontrolled intraocular pressure.