Ocular trauma and glaucoma.

Development of glaucoma must be considered after any ocular trauma. Transient or prolonged elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP) and damage to the trabecular meshwork and other structures predispose traumatized eyes to the development of glaucomatous optic nerve loss. Each trauma case is unique, but ocular injury tends to occur in certain patterns. An understanding of these patterns allows one to more accurately predict the risk of glaucoma development and the type of glaucoma likely to occur in any given case. It must also be remembered that some of the treatment of ocular trauma cases, such as steroid therapy or scleral buckling, can cause increases in IOP. Patients with eye trauma must be carefully counseled on their lifelong risk of glaucoma. Close follow-up is recommended with specific attention paid to any early signs of glaucomatous changes.