EyeRounds Online Atlas of Ophthalmology

Contributor:
William Charles Caccamise Sr,MD, Retired Clinical Prof of Ophthalmology-U of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Category: Cornea
Diagnosis: corneal staphyloma with keratomalacia OU

Image Comments:

The terms hydrophthalmus and buphthalmus are used synonymously. However, one might contend that hydrophthalmus should mean primary congenital glaucoma later accompanied by enlargement of the eye. Buphthalmus could arguably be used for secondary glaucoma in infancy that leads to enlargement of the eye. At the Kurji Holy Family Hospital Eye Clinic, the patient in the photograph would be diagnosed as having buphthalmus - secondary glaucoma with enlargement of the eye. With Vitamin A deficiency,there was a resultant keratomalacia followed by perforation of the cornea. The iris rushed to plug the site of perforation. Interference with the aqueous drainage system of the eye by the ensuing intraocular pathology caused an increase in intraocular pressure, i.e. secondary glaucoma. In a young child, the increased pressure led to enlargement of the eye as seen in the photograph, i.e a bulging staphyloma with the appearance of a scarred ox-eye. Buphthalmus is from the Greek for ox and eye.

 

 

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