Very rarely children can get glaucoma. There are about 100 new cases in UK per year. Glaucoma in children can happen on its own, called congenital glaucoma or secondary to other eye problem e.g. congenital cataract. There may be family history of similar conditions. Childhood glaucoma can present at any age from birth to teenager. 

Childhood glaucoma commonly do not respond to medical treatments well although medical treatments are commonly tried first. The treatment is mainly surgery. There are many different types of surgery. The following are some common surgeries for childhood glaucoma.

Goniotomy

This is usually the first line surgery in Primary Congenital Glaucoma. The drainage angle is normally immaturely formed in congenital glaucoma, the procedure involves using a goniotomy knife making a gentle cut on the drainage angle to allow water draining through again.

Trabeculotomy

This is similar to goniotomy but a knife is passed into the drainage canal and cut inward into the eyes.

Trabeculectomy

This is a procedure making an alternative drainage channels by creating a valve like structure on top of the eye under the eye lid. The water will drain into a space called the 'Bleb' under the superficial layer of tissue 'conjunctiva'. Anti-scarring agents commonly used with this operation to prevent over-scarring after surgery and sealing off these artificial channels.

Glaucoam Drainge Device (tube-shunt)

The tube-shunt device is a tiny silicone tube about 0.5mm passing into the eye and connecting to a silicone plate working like a reservoir. This device can maintain long-term drainage as scarring tissues are unlikely going to seal off the drainage in time. This is a more complex operation therefore normally reserved for children with more complex glaucoma or the previous glaucoma surgeries have failed.