Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma Associated with Traumatic Dislocation of the Lens:  A New Pathogenetic Concept

Ophthalmologists have long appreciated the fact that glaucoma may develop in eyes that have suffered a traumatic subluxation or luxation of the lens. The exact incidence, cause, and treatment of this type of glaucoma is far less established, however, and much controversy still exists concerning many aspects of this condition.

There is a notable lack of information dealing with such basic facts as the incidence of this type of glaucoma and even less concerning the results of therapy. Table 1 summarizes some statistics compiled from three series of traumatic dislocations of the lens that have been reported.^1-3 There are certain errors involved in compiling figures such as these. For example, glaucoma may not develop until very late after a lens dislocation, and thus its incidence will vary with the length of follow-up of the patients. Further, included in these figures are some cases of spontaneous and congenital dislocations. Recognizing