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What is Lens Induced Glaucoma?

With the damage to the optic nerve, lens induced glaucoma is caused by the leakage of lens material in one’s eye. The leakage can typically be from a dense or late cataract. This type of glaucoma can happen in open-angle or angle-closure forms. The lens induced glaucoma needs more attention and care, as unlike other glaucoma, this cannot be ignored, and when left untreated it can lead to loss of peripheral vision

Lens Induced Glaucoma Symptoms

There are a set of signs that indicate Lens induced glaucoma. Very common ones include:

  • Pain in the eyes
  • Loss of sight
  • Redness
  • Fading of visual clarity

A few other symptoms that could be experience by others include:

  • Clouding of the eyes
  • Tearing
  • Corneal edema
  • Photophobia (a discomfort in the eyes that is felt because of the contact with high levels of light or by the occurrence of physical sensitivity within the eyes)
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Lens Induced Glaucoma Causes

Angle-closure

  • Due to swelling of lens (phacomorphic glaucoma) 

  • Due to discoloration of lens (ectopia lentis)

Open angle

  • Due to the leakage of lens proteins through the capsule of mature/hypermature cataract (phacolytic glaucoma)

  • Due to the obstruction of the meshwork after cataract treatment

  • Due to capsulotomy

  • Due to ocular trauma caused by fragments of lens (lens-particle glaucoma)

  • Due to hypersensitivity to own lens protein after a cataract surgery (phacoantigenic glaucoma)

Lens induced glaucoma is caused by the leakage of lens materials through the capsule of a developed cataract. The leakage of lens material from one’s lens can get into the drainage system of the eye, which leads to obstacles of outflow of the usual aqueous liquid within the eye. This can cause a build-up of aqueous inside the eye, in-turn increasing eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve.

prevention

Prevention measures for Lens Induced Glaucoma

If taken care properly, prevention of Lens induced glaucoma is possible. Some of the prevention measures include:

  • Regular eye and diabetic examination 

  • Family health history plays a major role. Understand and examine the same. Glaucoma can be a hereditary

  • Build a regular and safe exercise routine

  • Wear eye protection

  • Take only prescribed eye drops  

 

Different types of Lens Induced Glaucoma are

  • Phacolytic glaucoma

  • Phacomorphic glaucoma

  • Lens particle glaucoma

  • Phacotopic glaucoma

  • Phacoanaphylatic uveitis with secondary glaucoma

Lens induced glaucoma Diagnosis

Diagnosis of each type of the Lens induced glaucoma has different process:

  • When it comes to Phacomorphic glaucoma, it is diagnosed by eye pain, decreased vision, formation of mature cataract and intraocular pressure in the eye. 

  • Ectopia lentis varies from person to person based on the state of their lens, but when it is dislocated, it leads in angle-closure and blockage in the pupillary. Usually people will undergo pain in their eyes, decreased visual clarity and face difficulties in placing things especially near vision. 

  • In Phacolytic glaucoma, the patient will undergo pain in the eye with photophobia, decrease in vision and high conjunctival hyperemia. Diagnosis of such glaucoma is done with a prominent cell or white particle in one’s anterior chamber, corneal edema, increase in intraocular pressure and the sign of mature cataract. 

  • In lens-particle glaucoma, the signs occur usually after a few days or weeks or even a month or year later. An accurate diagnosis includes a surgery or trauma in the past. Elevated intraocular elements and signs of cortical lens particles in the anterior chamber are few clinical findings of these. 

  • Clinical findings for Phacoantigenic glaucoma include keratic precipitates, anterior chamber flare response and residue in the lens materials. This kind of glaucoma occurs between 1 & 14 days of a cataract surgery. 

Lens Induced Glaucoma Treatment

Lens induced glaucoma treatment requires immediate attention, and treating it promptly is of utmost importance, as it might lead to serious consequence if left unnoticed, including intractable glaucoma owing to peripheral anterior synechiae triggered by continual inflammation.

Additionally, this might lead to the development of pupillary membrane and eventually leading to a blockage in ones pupillary. There is a possibility of permanent damage to the aqueous outflow channels if the lens particles are not removed from the eye.

However, the treatment differs on the seriousness of the dislocation of the pupillary block. When there is subluxation without a pupillary block, treatment with intraocular pressure would be advised to follow. When there is a serious pupillary block that is present, a laser iridectomy is suggested. When there is a complete anterior dislocation, the treatment would be to remove the lens.

If you or someone close to you has developed Lens induced glaucoma, do not put off an eye test. Walk into Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital for an appointment with top specialists and surgeons in the field of eye care. Book an appointment now for Glaucoma Treatment and other Eye Treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Lens-Induced Glaucoma?

Lens-Induced Glaucoma occurs when the eye’s natural lens triggers increased pressure within the eye, leading to optic nerve damage and vision loss. This condition typically arises when the natural lens becomes dislocated, causing obstruction in the drainage system of the eye, known as the trabecular meshwork, resulting in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).

Lens-Induced Glaucoma is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination, which includes measuring intraocular pressure, assessing the drainage angles of the eye using gonioscopy, and evaluating the optic nerve for signs of damage. Additionally, imaging tests such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be employed to provide detailed images of the optic nerve and the surrounding structures.

Symptoms of Lens-Induced Glaucoma may include sudden onset of eye pain, blurred vision, halos around lights, redness in the eye, nausea, and vomiting. However, it’s important to note that some individuals may not experience any noticeable symptoms until the condition has progressed significantly, highlighting the importance of regular eye examinations.

Treatment options for Lens-Induced Glaucoma aim to reduce intraocular pressure and prevent further damage to the optic nerve. This may include prescription eye drops to lower eye pressure, oral medications, laser procedures such as laser trabeculoplasty to improve drainage, or surgical interventions like trabeculectomy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) to create alternative pathways for fluid drainage.

If left untreated, Lens-Induced Glaucoma can indeed lead to permanent vision loss. The elevated intraocular pressure caused by the dislocated lens can damage the optic nerve, resulting in irreversible vision impairment or even blindness. However, with prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the progression of the condition can often be halted or slowed, helping to preserve vision and maintain eye health over the long term. Regular monitoring and compliance with treatment recommendations are crucial for managing Lens-Induced Glaucoma effectively and minimizing the risk of vision loss.

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