Pigmentary Glaucoma
Also known as Pigment Dispersion Glaucoma, Pigment Dispersion Syndrome, Pigment Glaucoma, Krukenberg Spindle Glaucoma
Bottom Line
Pigmentary glaucoma happens when tiny pigment grains rub off inside the eye and clog the eye's drain. Treatment lowers pressure to protect the optic nerve.
Pigment dispersion syndrome happens when pigment from the back of the iris rubs off into the fluid inside the eye. The pigment can collect in the eye's drain, where fluid leaves the front of the eye 1.
Some people with pigment dispersion develop high eye pressure and optic nerve damage. When that happens, doctors call it pigmentary glaucoma 2.
Many people have no symptoms. Eye drops, laser, and surgery can lower eye pressure and slow vision loss 3.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Your eye doctor looks for pigment on the cornea, iris, lens, and eye's drain. They also check eye pressure, optic nerve shape, and side vision 2.
- Drops. These lower pressure by reducing fluid or helping it leave the eye.
- Laser. Selective laser trabeculoplasty may help the eye's drain work better.
- Surgery. Surgery is used when pressure stays too high despite simpler treatment.
Treatment is based on pressure level and optic nerve damage. Pigment alone does not always mean glaucoma 3.
Common Questions About Pigmentary Glaucoma
Next Steps
- 1Book a glaucoma exam if you were told you have pigment dispersion or high eye pressure.
- 2Ask for your eye pressure, optic nerve status, and side vision test results.
- 3Tell your doctor if halos or blurry vision happen after exercise or dilation.
- 4Use pressure-lowering drops exactly as prescribed.
- 5Go to the emergency room for sudden eye pain, halos with nausea, or sudden vision loss.
Find specialists for Pigmentary Glaucoma
Board-certified ophthalmologists who treat Pigmentary Glaucoma.
Also relevant