The Role of Axial Length and Intraocular Pressure in the Follow-Up of Growing Children with Primary Congenital Glaucoma

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect ocular growth in children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) who have undergone surgical treatment. We designed an analysis like that proposed by Al-Obaida et al. to assess whether similar results could be obtained in the Caucasian population. Methods: Data on axial length (AxL), intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal diameter of PCG patients were recorded and analyzed. Results: Patients' age was significantly influencing the increase in AxL. Also, levels of IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and number of surgeries along the follow-up period were found to significantly influence AxL progression. Conclusions: This study confirms that in PCG patients, there is a curvilinear relationship between AxL and age, which is strongly influenced by IOP, gender, the number of surgical interventions, and the number of anti-glaucoma medications. These data seem to suggest that maintaining IOP values closer to normal ones for age is crucial in the first up to three years of life to avoid permanent ocular anatomic and functional damage caused by elevated intraocular pressure.