Pigmentary glaucoma is secondary glaucoma with no known symptoms. Acquired glaucoma often occurs around the age of 40 and above. However, congenital glaucoma such as this pigmentary glaucoma can begin at the age of 20. Find out more about this type of glaucoma as you scroll on.
Pigmentary Glaucoma | Learning More About This Eye Condition
What is Pigmentary Glaucoma
Pigmentary glaucoma occurs when the iris pigment of your eyes spread onto neighboring structures. This spread can often cause clogs and an increase in intraocular pressure or IOP. Additionally, these conditions can cause visual field loss.
Who Is at Risk of Having Pigmentary Glaucoma
Pigmentary glaucoma is usually inherited. This eye condition typically occurs in people within 20-30 years but men are at a higher risk of having pigmentary glaucoma than women. People with myopia are also more susceptible to having this type of glaucoma because of the anatomy of their eyes.
When to Have Your Eyes Checked
Unfortunately, there are no known symptoms of pigmentary glaucoma. However, if you’re experiencing a loss of peripheral vision, this eye condition has already advanced. The best way to find out if you have pigmentary glaucoma is to undergo regular eye exams. If you have family members who have had pigmentary glaucoma, you need to have your eyes checked as soon as possible.
Where to Go for Diagnosis
Visit an ophthalmologist for a thorough eye exam that includes your drainage angle. If you have this eye condition, your eye doctor will find more pigment in the drainage angle than normal. These pigments may also be found in the thinning of your iris and inner lining of your cornea. Your ophthalmologist may also advise you to have an imaging of your optic nerve to see how far the condition has advanced.
Why You Need to Know Pigmentary Glaucoma
Without any prior symptoms, this eye condition becomes very dangerous. The spread of pigment throughout your eyes can greatly damage your optic nerve and cause permanent loss of vision. You need to be aware of your family’s history of eye diseases and have regular eye exams to make sure you don’t have pigmentary glaucoma.
How to Treat Pigmentary Glaucoma
The most common treatment for this eye condition is miotic therapy. This treatment lowers IOP by aiding the drainage of the pigment through miotic eyedrops. However, these eyedrops may be too potent for younger patients. Another treatment under investigation is laser iridotomy. This laser uses a beam of light to create a hole around the iris to let out excess fluid and decrease friction which may be causing the pigment dispersion.
Watch this short video from Euijin Jung to find out more about pigmentary glaucoma!
Pigmentary glaucoma is an inherited eye condition that can cause complete loss of vision. This condition needs to be monitored and addressed quickly in order to save your eyes. However, its treatment procedures also need to be monitored to find the best treatment for you.
Have you had pigmentary glaucoma before? How were you able to deal with this eye condition? Share your thoughts and experience with us in the comments below!
Up Next: What Are The Causes of Glaucoma
