Spectrum of presentation in primary congenital glaucoma and its relation to the early outcome

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is a relatively uncommon condition but results in a lifetime of irreversible blindness if left untreated. There is a relatively narrow treatment window, which, if missed, is likely to lead to severe visual disability. For any disease to be detected in time, it is important for the signs and symptoms to be recognized. Unlike glaucoma in adults, which is notoriously difficult to detect since there are no symptoms, glaucoma in children does present with symptoms and signs which can be detected by pediatricians and even parents, who are usually the first contacts of these children. PCG classically presents with a triad of photophobia, epiphora, and blepharospasm. Many children in India present with corneal edema initially, without buphthalmos or any of the classical signs.[1,2] Conversely, many children may have had symptoms for a considerable period of time, before presentation to an ophthalmologist simply because the disease was not thought of, hence, delaying diagnosis. In India, there are few centers treating PCG and many children present too late for any meaningful treatment. Ours is the only tertiary care referral center treating PCG for five large states in Abstract