[A study of anterior segment structures in primary infantile glaucoma eyes by ultrasound biomicroscopy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate anterior segment structures in primary infantile glaucoma (PIG) eyes by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in vivo.


METHODS
UBM high frequency transducer (50 mHz) was used to measure and observe the anterior segment of 38 PIG cases (58 eyes).


RESULTS
No matter the severity of the disease or the age at onset, the most significant characteristics of the diseased eyes are relative positional changes between scleral spur and angle apex. In three forth of the eyes, the scleral spur lay in the lateral or posterior-lateral site of the angle apex and in one forth of the eyes the site of the tip of scleral spur was parallel with the iris root insertion. The thickness and length of ciliary processes in the eyes of PIG were greater than that of the normal infantile eyes. The ciliary processes were anteriorly displaced, pulled towards the lens, and part of them got into contact with the iris.


CONCLUSIONS
The relative positional changes between scleral spur and angle apex in diseased eyes indicate that the poor development of scleral spur and the iris anterior insertion are the basic pathogenesis in PIG.
Zhu
X
X
Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tong Ren Hospital, Beijing 100730.
Li
Z
Z
Lin
D
D
Tang
X
X
Yang
W
W
Hu
S
S
Wang
L
L
D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography