Management of Glaucoma in Aphakic Children

Blindness from pediatric cataracts has been largely curtailed in the last few decades with the aid of routine pediatric screening, early diagnosis, prevention of congenital rubella, improved surgical techniques, and visual rehabilitation through contact lenses, and now, lens implantation. Unfortunately aphakic patients are prone to glaucoma, and management of this disease in children is complicated by the difficulty in monitoring young patients for glaucomatous change. Because of longevity, children are also at greater risk for a gradual long-term pressure rise in spite of medical or surgical intervention. Advances in glaucoma medications and surgery in the past few decades have offered new treatment, but as in all disease states, a continued search for prevention may be most effective.