Buphthalmos

Buphthalmos
Classification and external resources
Specialty	medical genetics
ICD-10	Q15.0
ICD-9-CM	743.2
DiseasesDB	1778
MeSH	D006871
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Buphthalmos (plural: buphthalmoses) is enlargement of the eyeball and is most commonly seen in infants and young children. It is sometimes referred to as buphthalmia (plural buphthalmias). It usually appears in the newborn period or the first 3 months of life. and in most cases indicates the presence of congenital (infantile) glaucoma, which is a disorder in which elevated pressures within the eye lead to structural eye damage and vision loss.

Buphthalmos in itself is merely a clinical sign and does not generate symptoms. Patients with glaucoma often initially have no symptoms; later, they can exhibit excessive tearing (lacrimation) and extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia). On ophthalmologic exam, one can detect increased intraocular pressure, distortion of the optic disc, and corneal edema, which manifests as haziness.

Prominent eyeball, haab's striae in descemets membrane of cornea, enlarged cornea, myopia.

Infantile glaucoma, which often produces the clinical sign of buphthalmos, can be caused when an abnormally narrow angle between the cornea and iris blocks the outflow of aqueous humor; this causes increased intraocular pressure and eventual enlargement of the globe (eyeball). Angle closure can be caused by developmental abnormalities of the eye as well as the presence of abnormal structures within the vitreous.

Untreated glaucoma leads to total blindness. Surgical treatment is required. Presently-utilized surgical procedures include goniotomy, trabeculotomy, or trabeculectomy.

The name of the condition derives from the Greek βοῦς bous (ox or cow), referring to the bulging eyes common to bovines.

US musical legend Ray Charles, who was totally blind by age 7, had probably been afflicted with glaucoma and may have had buphthalmos early in life.

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