title: Phacolytic glaucoma:  are there 2 forms?
abstract: We report a case of acute phacolytic glaucoma in which only protein was present in the anterior chamber without macrophages. We propose that this study represents a type of phacolytic glaucoma characterized by a hyperacute presentation caused by rapid leakage of degenerated lens proteins into the aqueous humor as opposed to a second type with a more gradual onset and with phacolytic macrophages in the aqueous humor resulting from an immunologic response to liquefied lens proteins. Thus, 2 forms, perhaps at ends of a spectrum of clinical manifestations of phacolytic glaucoma, may exist with distinct characteristics and pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Glaucoma Sector, Ophthalmology Department, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mavrakanas
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Axmann
authors.forename: Christopher Van
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Issum
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shaarawy
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007905:Lens Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins