[Dysgenetic changes of the angle of the anterior chamber in patients with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma acquired before age 40].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine percentage and degree of dysgenetic changes in the chamber angle in glaucoma suspects and in patients who acquired glaucoma before the age of fourty and to compare the primary classification with the classification after reexamination.


METHODS
200 eyes of 104 patients (59 males, 45 females, 0-40 yrs old (median 29) at time of detection) could be examined or reexaminded by gonioscopy and photography with the CGA-1 goniolens. The angles were documented by drawing and by goniophotography. The different features of dysgenesis served to establish a point-scale.


RESULTS
Out of 200 eyes in 24 eyes (12%) a slight, in 81 (40.5%) an intermediate and in 49 (24.5%) a severe goniodysgenesis was found. By reexamination the dysgenesis rate rose from 48 to 77%.


CONCLUSIONS
The high frequency of dysgenetic changes in the chamber angle of glaucoma patients affected under the age of fourty suggests, that in this age group developmental glaucoma is predominant and has to be separated as a special entity from POAG. Two questions arise: 1. Were these dysgenetic changes overlooked most of the time in the newer genetic studies of patients with GLC1A, or, if not, 2nd: Do glaucoma suspects and patients with open angle glaucomas before the age of 40 with and without dysgenetic changes belong to groups with different glaucoma genes, the "with" to genes IRID 1 and IRID 2 and the "without" to genes GLC1A to GLC1F?
Augenklinik des Universitätsspitals Zürich, Schweiz.
C
C
Kniestedt
M T
MT
Kammann
J
J
Stürmer
B P
BP
Gloor
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006068:Gonioscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D058609:Visual Field Tests