Childhood glaucoma present at birth or developing in childhood is sometimes called infantile glaucoma if it occurs before the age of 3, but will typically be detected before the child’s first birthday. It is uncommon, affecting about 1 in 10,000 children, and increased risk is associated with enlarged eyes, cataracts and photosensitivity.^5,20

Childhood glaucoma occurs more usually as primary congenital glaucoma, due to the eye structure not developing properly in the womb affecting fluid drainage from the eye. There may be a family history of this.²⁰

Secondary glaucoma in children can also arise from injury or conditions affecting other aspects of eye development, such as in the lens or cornea, or aniridia, where the iris fails to develop. It may also arise due to surgery on the eye, such as removing cataracts, or be a consequence of inflammatory conditions such as types of arthritis which leads to the drainage ducts becoming blocked with immune response cells.²⁰

Children born with blood vessel birth marks on the face (Sturge-Weber syndrome or a ‘port-wine stain’) are at increased risk of developing glaucoma so should be monitored regularly.²⁰