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Ghost cell glaucoma

AI overview

Ghost cell glaucoma is a type of secondary glaucoma that occurs due to long standing vitreous hemorrhage, where degenerated red blood cells block the trabecular meshwork and increase intraocular pressure.

Key points
  • Ghost cells develop 1–3 weeks after vitreous hemorrhage within the vitreous cavity.
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    The ghost cells develop within the vitreous cavity, 1–3 weeks after vitreous hemorrhage.
  • Ghost cells obstruct the trabecular meshwork, leading to increased intraocular pressure and glaucoma.
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    They obstruct the trabecular meshwork and eventually the pressure inside eye ( intraocular pressure ) increases and leads to glaucoma.
  • Causes include ocular trauma, diabetes, sickle cell disease, uveitis, UGH syndrome, and many eye surgeries.
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    Main causes include ocular trauma , diabetes , sickle cell disease , uveitis , UGH syndrome , many eye surgeries etc.
  • Campbell et al. described Ghost cell glaucoma in 1976.
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    Campbell et al. described Ghost cell glaucoma in 1976.
  • Fenton and Zimmerman referred to the condition as hemolytic glaucoma.
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    Fenton and Zimmerman called it hemolytic glaucoma.
Symptoms
  • Myriad small cells may be seen in the aqueous humor during slit lamp examination.
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    Myriad small cells may be seen in the aqueous humor during slit lamp examination.
  • Intraocular pressure rises up to 30 to 70 mm Hg.
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    Intraocular pressure rises up to 30 to 70 mm Hg.
  • Increased intraocular pressure may cause blurring of vision, headache, brow ache, nausea and/or vomiting.
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    The increased intraocular pressure may cause blurring of vision, headache , brow ache, nausea and/or vomiting .
  • The angle of anterior chamber is open on gonioscopy.
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    The angle of anterior chamber is seen open with gonioscopy .
Diagnosis
  • Slit lamp examination reveals myriad small cells in the aqueous humor.
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    Myriad small cells may be seen in the aqueous humor during slit lamp examination.
  • Gonioscopy shows an open anterior chamber angle.
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    The angle of anterior chamber is seen open with gonioscopy .
  • Intraocular pressure is elevated, ranging from 30 to 70 mm Hg.
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    Intraocular pressure rises up to 30 to 70 mm Hg.
Treatment
  • The condition usually resolves once the vitreous hemorrhage has cleared.
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    The condition usually resolves once the vitreous hemorrhage has cleared.
  • Medical therapy with aqueous suppressants is preferred when IOP is not very high.
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    If IOP is not so high, medical therapy with aqueous suppressants is preferred.
  • Surgery is advised if IOP remains in the 40–50 mm Hg range despite medical therapy.
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    Surgery is advised if the intraocular pressure remains in 40- to 50-mm Hg range even after medical therapy.
  • Anterior chamber washout via corneal paracentesis with saline irrigation can remove ghost cells.
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    Anterior chamber can be cleaned by making a small paracentesis in the cornea and irrigating the anterior chamber with a saline solution .
  • Repeat evacuation and aspiration are needed if cells re-accumulate in the anterior chamber.
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    Repeat evacuation and aspiration are required if myriad cells accumulate again in anterior chamber.
Red flags
  • Uncontrolled increased intraocular pressure may lead to optic nerve damage.
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    If the increased intraocular pressure is uncontrolled, it may lead to optic nerve damage
  • Uncontrolled intraocular pressure may cause irreversible visual impairment.
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    and irreversible visual impairment .
Prognosis

The condition usually resolves once the vitreous hemorrhage has cleared, but uncontrolled intraocular pressure may lead to optic nerve damage and irreversible visual impairment.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Ghost cell glaucoma”. Not medical advice. Verify source →
Ghost cell glaucoma
SpecialtyOphthalmology
SymptomsBlurring of vision, eye pain, nausea and vomiting
ComplicationsOptic nerve damage, permanent vision loss
CausesVitreous hemorrhage
Risk factorsIncreased pressure in the eye
Diagnostic methodeye examination, gonioscopy
TreatmentMedication, surgery

Ghost cell glaucoma (GCG) is a type of secondary glaucoma occurs due to long standing vitreous hemorrhage. The rigid and less pliable degenerated red blood cells (ghost cells) block the trabecular meshwork and increase the pressure inside eyes.

The ghost cells develop within the vitreous cavity, 1–3 weeks after vitreous hemorrhage.[1] They obstruct the trabecular meshwork and eventually the pressure inside eye (intraocular pressure) increases and leads to glaucoma. A variety of ocular conditions may cause GCG. Main causes include ocular trauma, diabetes, sickle cell disease, uveitis, UGH syndrome, many eye surgeries etc.[2]

Myriad small cells may be seen in the aqueous humor during slit lamp examination.[3] Intraocular pressure rises up to 30 to 70 mm Hg.[3] The increased intraocular pressure may cause blurring of vision, headache, brow ache, nausea and/or vomiting.[2] The angle of anterior chamber is seen open with gonioscopy.[2]

If the increased intraocular pressure is uncontrolled, it may lead to optic nerve damage[2] and irreversible visual impairment.[4]

The condition usually resolves once the vitreous hemorrhage has cleared. But, depending on the seriousness of the increased intraocular pressure, medical or surgical treatment may be advised. If IOP is not so high, medical therapy with aqueous suppressants is preferred.[3] Surgery is advised if the intraocular pressure remains in 40- to 50-mm Hg range even after medical therapy.[3] Anterior chamber can be cleaned by making a small paracentesis in the cornea and irrigating the anterior chamber with a saline solution.[3] Repeat evacuation and aspiration are required if myriad cells accumulate again in anterior chamber.

Campbell et al. described Ghost cell glaucoma in 1976.[1] Campbell and Grant described the condition and given the name ghost cell glaucoma.[5] Fenton and Zimmerman called it hemolytic glaucoma.[3]

  1. 1 2 Alamri, Amal; Alkatan, Hind; Aljadaan, Ibrahim (2016). "Traumatic Ghost Cell Glaucoma with Successful Resolution of Corneal Blood Staining Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy". Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology. 23 (3): 271–273. doi:10.4103/0974-9233.180778. ISSN 0974-9233. PMC 4968153. PMID 27555716.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ghost Cell Glaucoma - EyeWiki". eyewiki.aao.org. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Themes, U. F. O. (2021-03-07). "Hemolytic or Ghost-Cell Glaucoma". Ento Key. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  4. ↑ Xu, Jun; Zhao, Meng; Li, Ji peng; Liu, Ning pu (2020-04-15). "Ghost cell glaucoma after intravitreous injection of ranibizumab in proliferative diabetic retinopathy". BMC Ophthalmology. 20 (1): 149. doi:10.1186/s12886-020-01422-z. ISSN 1471-2415. PMC 7161240. PMID 32295566.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Ravi; Alexander, T. A.; Joseph, Premkumar; Sajeev, Gita (1985-01-01). "Ghost cell glaucoma". Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 33 (1): 53–55. ISSN 0301-4738. PMID 4077207. Archived from the original on 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-04.