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Book

Lens-Induced Glaucoma

Shalin S. Shah  1 , Jay J. Meyer  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Lens-Induced Glaucoma

Shalin S. Shah et al.
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Excerpt

Lens-induced glaucoma (LIG) was originally described by Gifford in 1900 as glaucoma associated with hyper-mature senile cataracts (HMSC). Von Ruess independently described LIG as glaucoma with spontaneous absorption of lens matter through an intact capsule. The literature has described a multitude of similar entities over the decades. LIG is secondary glaucoma mimicking acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG), with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) and open angles in the contralateral eye and prompt relief of symptoms following cataract extraction.

Based on the pathogenesis, LIG is further classified as:

1. Lens protein-related: Leakage of lens protein across an intact or a breached lens capsule. This form includes:

  1. Phacolytic glaucoma (PLG)

  2. Lens-particle-induced glaucoma (LPIG)

  3. Phacoanaphylactic glaucoma (PAG)

2. Aqueous flow obstruction: Anatomical obstruction of aqueous flow from the posterior to the anterior chamber. This type includes:

  1. Phacomorphic glaucoma (PMG)

  2. Pupillary block glaucoma (PBG)

Some causes, like pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma and ciliary block glaucoma, are debatable entities under LIG.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Shalin Shah declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Jay Meyer declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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    1. Challa P, Hauser MA, Luna CC, Freedman SF, Pericak-Vance M, Yang J, McDonald MT, Allingham RR. Juvenile bilateral lens dislocation and glaucoma associated with a novel mutation in the fibrillin 1 gene. Mol Vis. 2006 Aug 28;12:1009-15. - PubMed
    1. Harrison DA, Mullaney PB, Mesfer SA, Awad AH, Dhindsa H. Management of ophthalmic complications of homocystinuria. Ophthalmology. 1998 Oct;105(10):1886-90. - PubMed
    1. Fuchs J, Rosenberg T. Congenital ectopia lentis. A Danish national survey. Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 1998 Feb;76(1):20-6. - PubMed
    1. FLOCKS M, LITTWIN CS, ZIMMERMAN LE. Phacolytic glaucoma; a clinicopathologic study of one hundred thirty-eight cases of glaucoma associated with hypermature cataract. AMA Arch Ophthalmol. 1955 Jul;54(1):37-45. - PubMed

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