Clinical Complications and Comorbidities Associated with Secondary Glaucoma: A Structured Literature Review

Secondary glaucoma is caused by underlying medical conditions, ocular injury, or drugs that increase intraocular pressure (IOP), causing damage to the optic nerve. It has a multifactorial etiology, making diagnosis and treatment complicated, and posing risks of irreversible loss of vision or blindness if left untreated.

The review assessed clinical complications and comorbidities of secondary glaucoma.

A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on studies from the past decade. Included studies involved patients aged ≥40 years diagnosed with secondary glaucoma in tertiary care or ophthalmology centers. Data on clinical complications, surgical outcomes, visual impacts, and the influence of hypertension, diabetes, and treatment modalities were analyzed.

Patients with secondary glaucoma were found to have a significantly higher incidence of comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome was described as the most common secondary glaucoma. The visual acuity test results were variable for a given patients, and the mean IOP for neovascular glaucoma stood at 40.67 mm Hg. Cup-to-disk ratio varied for traumatic and uveitic glaucoma, indicating structural damage to the optic nerve. The male patients had higher prevalence rates.

Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary management strategy are essential for preventing complications of secondary glaucoma. Modern diagnostic modalities such as optical coherence tomography and visual field testing, along with targeted therapies, can improve clinical outcomes and minimize morbidity.

This review provides an overview of the complications associated with secondary glaucoma.