Glaucoma and nanophthalmos

Abstract

The term nanophthalmos refers to aclinically small eye that appears morphologically normal. Ananophthalmos is characterized by hyperopia but can also be associated with various secondary pathologies, such as angle-closure glaucoma. In particular, the perioperative risks associated with ananophthalmic eye necessitate examination of the anatomical characteristics, which can result from the disproportional size of intraocular tissues despite structural normality. These include asmall anterior chamber depth, scleral thickening and anomalies of the vein plexus, which are predisposing factors for the formation of angle-closure glaucoma. The resulting therapeutic challenges in the nanophthalmic eye can be countered with iridectomy, lensectomy, vitrectomy and cyclophotocoagulation. The definition, genetics and clinical findings of nanophthalmos are discussed with afocus on the complication of glaucoma and its treatment.