It can be hereditary or it can be associated with other eye disorders. If glaucoma cannot be attributed to any other cause, it is classified as primary. If glaucoma is a result of another eye disorder, eye injury, or other disease, it is classified as secondary.

In addition to a complete medical history and eye examination of your child, diagnostic procedures for childhood glaucoma may include:

• Visual acuity test – Special paediatric eye chart test (with letters and images), which measures vision ability at various distances.
• Pupil dilation - the pupil is widened with eyedrops to allow a close-up examination of the eye's retina and optic nerve.
• Visual field –If the child is cooperative a test to measure a child's side (peripheral) vision can be done. Lost peripheral vision may be an indication of glaucoma.
• Tonometry - A standard test to determine the fluid pressure inside the eye.
• Gonioscopy - It is the assessment of the angle of the eye in a cooperative child to detect abnormalities in the angle structures responsible for glaucoma. Younger children may be examined with hand-held instruments, whereas older children are often examined with standard equipment that is used with adults. An eye examination can be difficult for a child. It is important that parents encourage cooperation. At times, the child may have to be examined under anesthesia, especially young children, in order to examine the eye and the fluid drainage system, and to determine the appropriate treatment.

Glaucoma is rare in children, as compared to the adult. However, when it does occur, the symptoms may not be as obvious in children. Many children are diagnosed before they are 6 months old. Glaucoma can affect one eye or both.

The following are the most common symptoms of childhood glaucoma. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Excessive tearing
• Light sensitivity (photophobia)
• Closure of one or both eyes in the light
• Cloudy, enlarged cornea (large eye)
• One eye may be larger than the other
• Vision loss

If the eye pressure increases rapidly, there may be pain and discomfort. Parents may notice that the child becomes irritable, fussy, and develops a poor appetite. Early detection and diagnosis is very important to prevent loss of vision. The symptoms of glaucoma may resemble other eye problems or medical conditions. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Specific treatment will be determined based on:

• Child's age, overall health, and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease

It is important for treatment of childhood glaucoma to start as early as possible. Treatment may include:

Medications

Some medications cause the eye to produce less fluid, while others lower pressure by helping fluid drain from the eye.