Childhood Glaucoma: An Overview

Several types of childhood glaucoma exist, and the terminology is based on the time of onset of disease and its potential cause. Though childhood glaucoma occurs less commonly than adults but can lead to permanent visual damage due to amblyopia, optic neuropathy or refractive error. A detailed evaluation should be done to establish diagnosis. Medical therapy has a limited role and surgery remains main modality for treatment. Childhood glaucoma is a treatable disease, if early diagnosis is established and therapeutic intervention done in time. In children with low vision efforts should be there to maintain residual vision and visual rehabilitation with low vision aids should be done.