The Relationship Between The Axial Length Of The Eye, Age And Intraocular Pressure Control In Children With Primary Congenital Glaucoma

To evaluate the clinical value of the axial length (AL) of the eyes in congenital glaucoma-operated children (PCG) with successfully postoperative controlled intraocular pressure (IOP).

A retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, “Sestre milosrdnice” Clinical Hospital Center, among pediatric patients with a diagnosis of PCG. 

All patients were operated using the trabeculotomy method. The evaluation of clinical data was performed before the operation and three, six and twelve months after the operation and at the last control examination. The values of the AL of the eye were compared with the normative data for the AL of the eye in the pediatric population according to Sampaolesi.

During 6 years of follow-up, 10 patients (18 eyes) were diagnosed with PCG. In 6 eyes, IOP was controlled with one trabeculotomy and in 12 eyes with two trabeculotomies, of which 6 eyes required additional antiglaucoma therapy. The mean IOP was 17.68 ± 5.31 mmHg before surgery and 6.16 ± 2.42 mmHg at the final follow-up examination. The mean AL of the eyes before surgery was 23.88 ± 2.71 mm and 24.22 ± 2.26 mm at the last follow-up examination. All differences were statistically significant (P<0.002). In all patients, the values of AL of the eyes before and after treatment were compared with age-related normative data. Measurements before and after surgery were positively correlated (P<0.009).

The AL of the eyes in children is a valuable parameter in the diagnosis and follow-up of congenital glaucoma-operated children. IOP control had a positive effect on the axial length of the eyes in patients with congenital glaucoma.