Glaucoma Associated with Sympathetic Ophthalmia

Glaucoma developed within months after a patient sustained a severe penetrating injury to his fellow eye. The injured eye was enucleated and glaucoma led to blindness in the other eye. The glaucoma was associated with uveitis immunofluorescent studies suggest an autoimmune mechanism. However, many features were inconsistent with typical sympathetic ophthalmia, creating a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problem. A survey of the literature concerning the various manifestations of glaucoma and sympathetic ophthalmia is presented to aid in the recognition and management of these rare but devastating forms of glaucoma.