Lens induced glaucomas

The crystalline lens inside the human eye has been implicated as a causative factor in many forms of glaucoma. Lens induced glaucomas or Lens related glaucomas are either open-angle or closed-angle glaucomas that can occur due to a neglected advanced cataract (cloudiness of the lens) or a dislocated lens. It is a type of secondary glaucoma. The angle-closure glaucoma can be caused by a swollen or dislocated lens. The open-angle glaucoma can be caused by leakage of lens proteins through the capsule of a mature or hyper mature cataract or by a hypersensitivity reaction to own lens protein following surgery or penetrating trauma.

Phacomorphic glaucoma
The presence of an asymmetric mature cataractous lens, shallow or closed anterior chamber angle, raised intraocular pressure (IOP) and other typical signs and symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma in the eye may lead to a diagnosis of phacomorphic glaucoma. Cataract surgery after initial IOP control with medication is the only treatment. Rarely direct compression of angle by intumescent lens may also cause angle closure.

Glaucoma secondary to ectopia lentis
Ectopia lentis is a displacement or malposition of the eye's crystalline lens from its normal location. The displace lens leads to pupillary block and secondary glaucoma.

Spherophakia
Spherophakia is a rare congenital bilateral eye disease. The main symptoms are a smaller and more spherical crystalline lens and weak zonules. due to weak zonules, the lens may undergo subluxation or dislocation, leading to pupillary block and secondary glaucoma.

Phacolytic glaucoma
Phacolytic glaucoma is a type of secondary glaucoma caused by the leakage of lens material through the capsule of a mature cataract. The leaked lens material may obstruct the trabecular meshwork leading to decreased aqueous humor outflow and increased intraocular pressure.

Lens particle glaucoma
Lens particle glaucoma also known as phacotoxic glaucoma. Following surgery or injury, lens material may leak into outside the lens capsule. Large lens fragments spontaneously break up into smaller and sometimes invisible particles. lens material entering the anterior chamber can obstruct aqueous outflow and cause glaucoma.

Phacoantigenic glaucoma
Phacoantigenic glaucoma was formerly known as Phacoanaphylaxis. In this inflammatory reaction against own lens antigens leads to obstruction of the trabecular meshwork and increased IOP.

Investigations
Tonometry is used to measure intraocular pressure. Gonioscopy is the gold-standard for measuring angle of anterior chamber and confirming angle closure.

Treatment
Cataract surgery after initial IOP control with medication or laser is the definitive treatment for any type of lens induced glaucomas.

History
Lens induced glaucoma was first described by Gifford in 1900 as a secondary glaucoma associated with hypermature senile cataract. In the same year von Reuss described it as a glaucoma associated with spontaneous absorption of lens substance through intact lens capsule.