Two children (patients) with severe motor and intellectual disabilities with acute angle-closure glaucoma.

Abstract

We experienced two cases of acute angle-closure glaucoma (acute glaucoma attack) at a facility for children (patients) with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID). The symptoms observed when it was discovered include loss of consciousness for one patient, and for the other, crying and hyperemic conjunctiva. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a condition which requires immediate treatments; it may lead to loss of vision shortly after the onset if it is left untreated. In children (patients) with SMID, it is sometimes difficult to notice their changes at onset as they are unable to complain of symptoms most of the time and may have chronic ophthalmological symptoms such as hyperemic conjunctiva due to constant malclosure of eyes, compression of eyes in association with the facial position, and self-stimulation. In addition, common use of oral drugs which cause dilation of the pupil as well as the position of the body such as prone position may also induce the onset. It often occurs in elderly patients as it can be also induced by cataract. Further attentions will be required as incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma may increase in the future along with aging of the children (patients) with SMID.