Ghost cell glaucoma

Last updated
Ghost cell glaucoma
Specialty Ophthalmology
Symptoms Blurring of vision, eye pain, nausea and vomiting
Complications Optic nerve damage, permanent vision loss
Causes Vitreous hemorrhage
Risk factors Increased pressure in the eye
Diagnostic method eye examination, gonioscopy
TreatmentMedication, surgery

Ghost cell glaucoma (GCG) is a type of secondary glaucoma occurs due to long standing vitreous hemorrhage. The rigid and less pliable degenerated red blood cells (ghost cells) block the trabecular meshwork and increase the pressure inside eyes.

Contents

Pathophysiology

The ghost cells develop within the vitreous cavity, 1–3 weeks after vitreous hemorrhage. [1] They obstruct the trabecular meshwork and eventually the pressure inside eye (intraocular pressure) increases and leads to glaucoma. A variety of ocular conditions may cause GCG. Main causes include ocular trauma, diabetes, sickle cell disease, uveitis, UGH syndrome, many eye surgeries etc. [2]

Signs and symptoms

Myriad small cells may be seen in the aqueous humor during slit lamp examination. [3] Intraocular pressure rises up to 30 to 70 mm Hg. [3] The increased intraocular pressure may cause blurring of vision, headache, brow ache, nausea and/or vomiting. [2] The angle of anterior chamber is seen open with gonioscopy. [2]

Complications

If the increased intraocular pressure is uncontrolled, it may lead to optic nerve damage [2] and irreversible visual impairment. [4]

Treatment

The condition usually resolves once the vitreous hemorrhage has cleared. But, depending on the seriousness of the increased intraocular pressure, medical or surgical treatment may be advised. If IOP is not so high, medical therapy with aqueous suppressants is preferred. [3] Surgery is advised if the intraocular pressure remains in 40- to 50-mm Hg range even after medical therapy. [3] Anterior chamber can be cleaned by making a small paracentesis in the cornea and irrigating the anterior chamber with a saline solution. [3] Repeat evacuation and aspiration are required if myriad cells accumulate again in anterior chamber.

History

Campbell et al. described Ghost cell glaucoma in 1976. [1] Campbell and Grant described the condition and given the name ghost cell glaucoma. [5] Fenton and Zimmerman called it hemolytic glaucoma. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glaucoma</span> Group of eye diseases

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that lead to damage of the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma may cause vision loss if left untreated. It has been called the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision usually occurs slowly over a long period of time. A major risk factor for glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye, known as intraocular pressure (IOP). It is associated with old age, a family history of glaucoma, and certain medical conditions or medications. The word glaucoma comes from the Ancient Greek word γλαυκóς, meaning 'gleaming, blue-green, gray'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilocarpine</span> Medication used to treat glaucoma and dry mouth

Pilocarpine is a medication used to reduce pressure inside the eye and treat dry mouth. As an eye drop it is used to manage angle closure glaucoma until surgery can be performed, ocular hypertension, primary open angle glaucoma, and to constrict the pupil after dilation. However, due to its side effects it is no longer typically used for long-term management. Onset of effects with the drops is typically within an hour and lasts for up to a day. By mouth it is used for dry mouth as a result of Sjögren syndrome or radiation therapy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aqueous humour</span> Fluid in the anterior segment of the eye

The aqueous humour is a transparent water-like fluid similar to blood plasma, but containing low protein concentrations. It is secreted from the ciliary body, a structure supporting the lens of the eyeball. It fills both the anterior and the posterior chambers of the eye, and is not to be confused with the vitreous humour, which is located in the space between the lens and the retina, also known as the posterior cavity or vitreous chamber. Blood cannot normally enter the eyeball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intraocular pressure</span> Fluid pressure inside the eye

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the fluid pressure inside the eye. Tonometry is the method eye care professionals use to determine this. IOP is an important aspect in the evaluation of patients at risk of glaucoma. Most tonometers are calibrated to measure pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trabecular meshwork</span> Area of tissue in the eye

The trabecular meshwork is an area of tissue in the eye located around the base of the cornea, near the ciliary body, and is responsible for draining the aqueous humor from the eye via the anterior chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior chamber of eyeball</span> Space in the eye

The anterior chamber (AC) is the aqueous humor-filled space inside the eye between the iris and the cornea's innermost surface, the endothelium. Hyphema, anterior uveitis and glaucoma are three main pathologies in this area. In hyphema, blood fills the anterior chamber as a result of a hemorrhage, most commonly after a blunt eye injury. Anterior uveitis is an inflammatory process affecting the iris and ciliary body, with resulting inflammatory signs in the anterior chamber. In glaucoma, blockage of the trabecular meshwork prevents the normal outflow of aqueous humour, resulting in increased intraocular pressure, progressive damage to the optic nerve head, and eventually blindness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schlemm's canal</span> Lymphatic-like vessel in the eye

Schlemm's canal is a circular lymphatic-like vessel in the eye. It collects aqueous humor from the anterior chamber and delivers it into the episcleral blood vessels. Canaloplasty may be used to widen it.

Ocular hypertension is the presence of elevated fluid pressure inside the eye, usually with no optic nerve damage or visual field loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pigment dispersion syndrome</span> Medical condition

Pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) is an eye disorder that can lead to a form of glaucoma known as pigmentary glaucoma. It takes place when pigment cells slough off from the back of the iris and float around in the aqueous humor. Over time, these pigment cells can accumulate in the anterior chamber in such a way that they begin to clog the trabecular meshwork, which can in turn prevent the aqueous humour from draining and therefore increases the pressure inside the eye. A common finding in PDS are central, vertical corneal endothelial pigment deposits, known as Krukenberg spindle. With PDS, the intraocular pressure tends to spike at times and then can return to normal. Exercise has been shown to contribute to spikes in pressure as well. When the pressure is great enough to cause damage to the optic nerve, this is called pigmentary glaucoma. As with all types of glaucoma, when damage happens to the optic nerve fibers, the vision loss that occurs is irreversible and painless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior chamber of eyeball</span> Region of the eyeball between the iris and lens

The posterior chamber is a narrow space behind the peripheral part of the iris, and in front of the suspensory ligament of the lens and the ciliary processes. The posterior chamber consists of small space directly posterior to the iris but anterior to the lens. The posterior chamber is part of the anterior segment and should not be confused with the vitreous chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glaucoma surgery</span> Type of eye surgery

Glaucoma is a group of diseases affecting the optic nerve that results in vision loss and is frequently characterized by raised intraocular pressure (IOP). There are many glaucoma surgeries, and variations or combinations of those surgeries, that facilitate the escape of excess aqueous humor from the eye to lower intraocular pressure, and a few that lower IOP by decreasing the production of aqueous humor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scleral spur</span> Annular structure composed of collagen in the human eye

The scleral spur in the visual system is a protrusion of the sclera into the anterior chamber. The spur is an annular structure composed of collagen in the human eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myocilin</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Myocilin, trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response (TIGR), also known as MYOC, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the MYOC gene. Mutations in MYOC are a major cause of glaucoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intraocular hemorrhage</span> Medical condition

Intraocular hemorrhage is bleeding inside the eye. Bleeding can occur from any structure of the eye where there is vasculature or blood flow, including the anterior chamber, vitreous cavity, retina, choroid, suprachoroidal space, or optic disc.

The Trabectome is a surgical device that can be used for ab interno trabeculotomy, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery for the surgical management of adult, juvenile, and infantile glaucoma. The trabecular meshwork is a major site of resistance to aqueous humor outflow. As angle surgeries such as Trabectome follow the physiologic outflow pathway, the risk of complications is significantly lower than filtering surgeries. Hypotony with damage to the macula, can occur with pressures below 5 mmHg, for instance, after traditional trabeculectomy, because of the episcleral venous pressure limit. The Trabectome handpiece is inserted into the anterior chamber, its tip positioned into Schlemm's canal, and advanced to the left and to the right. Different from cautery, the tip generates plasma to molecularize the trabecular meshwork and remove it drag-free and with minimal thermal effect. Active irrigation of the trabectome surgery system helps to keep the anterior chamber formed during the procedure and precludes the need for ophthalmic viscoelastic devices. Viscoelastic devices tend to trap debris or gas bubbles and diminish visualization. The Trabectome decreases the intra-ocular pressure typically to a mid-teen range and reduces the patient's requirement to take glaucoma eye drops and glaucoma medications. The theoretically lowest pressure that can be achieved is equal to 8 mmHg in the episcleral veins. This procedure is performed through a small incision and can be done on an outpatient basis.

Micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) is the latest advance in surgical treatment for glaucoma, which aims to reduce intraocular pressure by either increasing outflow of aqueous humor or reducing its production. MIGS comprises a group of surgical procedures which share common features. MIGS procedures involve a minimally invasive approach, often with small cuts or micro-incisions through the cornea that causes the least amount of trauma to surrounding scleral and conjunctival tissues. The techniques minimize tissue scarring, allowing for the possibility of traditional glaucoma procedures such as trabeculectomy or glaucoma valve implantation to be performed in the future if needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secondary glaucoma</span>

Secondary glaucoma is a collection of progressive optic nerve disorders associated with a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) which results in the loss of vision. In clinical settings, it is defined as the occurrence of IOP above 21 mmHg requiring the prescription of IOP-managing drugs. It can be broadly divided into two subtypes: secondary open-angle glaucoma and secondary angle-closure glaucoma, depending on the closure of the angle between the cornea and the iris. Principal causes of secondary glaucoma include optic nerve trauma or damage, eye disease, surgery, neovascularization, tumours and use of steroid and sulfa drugs. Risk factors for secondary glaucoma include uveitis, cataract surgery and also intraocular tumours. Common treatments are designed according to the type and the underlying causative condition, in addition to the consequent rise in IOP. These include drug therapy, the use of miotics, surgery or laser therapy.

Schwartz–Matsuo syndrome is a human eye disease characterised by rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and open angle of anterior chamber.

Uveitis–glaucoma–hyphaema (UGH) syndrome, also known as Ellingson syndrome, is a complication of cataract surgery, caused by intraocular lens subluxation or dislocation. The chafing of mispositioned intraocular lens over iris, ciliary body or iridocorneal angle cause elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) anterior uveitis and hyphema. It is most commonly caused by anterior chamber IOLs and sulcus IOLs but, the condition can be seen with any type of IOL, including posterior chamber lenses and cosmetic iris implants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uveitic glaucoma</span> Glaucoma caused by uveitis or its treatments

Uveitic glaucoma is most commonly a progression stage of noninfectious anterior uveitis or iritis.

References

  1. 1 2 Alamri, Amal; Alkatan, Hind; Aljadaan, Ibrahim (2016). "Traumatic Ghost Cell Glaucoma with Successful Resolution of Corneal Blood Staining Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy". Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology. 23 (3): 271–273. doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.180778 . ISSN   0974-9233. PMC   4968153 . PMID   27555716.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ghost Cell Glaucoma - EyeWiki". eyewiki.aao.org. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Themes, U. F. O. (2021-03-07). "Hemolytic or Ghost-Cell Glaucoma". Ento Key. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  4. Xu, Jun; Zhao, Meng; Li, Ji peng; Liu, Ning pu (2020-04-15). "Ghost cell glaucoma after intravitreous injection of ranibizumab in proliferative diabetic retinopathy". BMC Ophthalmology. 20 (1): 149. doi: 10.1186/s12886-020-01422-z . ISSN   1471-2415. PMC   7161240 . PMID   32295566.
  5. Thomas, Ravi; Alexander, T. A.; Joseph, Premkumar; Sajeev, Gita (1985-01-01). "Ghost cell glaucoma". Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 33 (1): 53–55. ISSN   0301-4738. PMID   4077207. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.