AC to Lens

Lens-related Glaucoma

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Lens-related glaucoma

Phacomorphic glaucoma

  • Enlarging lens causes pupillary block with secondary angle closure

  • Clinical features

    • Shallow AC with fixed mid-dilated pupil
    • Swollen/intumescent cataractous lens
    • Closed angle on gonioscopy
    • Open contralateral angle with deep AC (cp with PACG)
  • Management: as for PACG with laser PI and early cataract extraction

Phacolytic glaucoma

  • Microscopic leak of soluble lens protein from the hypermature cataract that obstructs the TM

  • Clinical features

    • Lens protein in AC (may form pseudohypopyon)
    • Deep AC
    • Open angle on gonioscopy with visible lens protein
    • Macroscopically intact lens capsule
    • No KPs
  • Tests: AC tap shows lens protein and foamy macrophages

  • Management as for open angle glaucoma with early cataract extraction

Phacoanaphylactic uveitis

  • Inflammatory reaction to lens protein eg following traumatic rupture of the capsule (cp. with phacolytic) or postoperative retained lens fragment

  • Type IV hypersensitivity reaction: granulomatous inflammatory response

    • A zone of PMLs surrounded by macrophages and giant cells
    • Inflammation develops within 2 weeks of sensitisation to lens protein
  • Can cause sensitisation to lens protein leading to aggressive response after contralateral eye surgery

  • Clinical features

    • Recent trauma/surgery
    • AC activity +/- hypopyon (must exclude endophthalmitis)
    • Synechiae
    • Open angle (deep AC)
  • Management: topical treatment of inflammation and IOP

    • Surgery: remove retained fragments
    • Consider intracapsular cataract removal for fellow eye to reduced exposure to lens protein

Glaucoma secondary to lens dislocation

  • Pupillary block caused by anterior lens subluxation or dislocation into the AC

  • Associated with

    • Trauma

    • Ocular disease

      • Aniridia
      • PXF
      • Axenfeld-reiger syndrome
      • Megalocornea
      • RP
    • Systemic disease

      • Marfan’s syndrome
      • Homocystinuria
      • Ehlers-danlos
      • Sturge weber
      • Crouzon syndrome
  • Management: dilate and lie patient supine and then constrict to keep lens safely behind iris

    • Early lens extraction via vitreoretinal approach

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