Chronic secondary glaucoma. Associated with retrodisplacement of iris root and deepening of the anterior chamber angle secondary to contusion

There is a not uncommon though rarely recognized form of chronic glaucoma which develops insidiously after contusion of the eye. This is a monocular glaucoma characterized by a recessed open angle and impaired outflow facility. Other signs of ocular trauma may or may not be evident and the other eye is usually normal. By the time enucleation is performed, the trabecular meshwork reveals advanced degenerative and sclerotic changes, often coupled with the formation of a hyaline membrane on its inner surface. The retrodisplacement of the iris root and pars plicata together with the deepened anterior chamber angle are the result of tears into the face of the ciliary body. These are important anatomic changes, indicative of old contusion, which should be sought clinically as well as histopathologically in evaluating cases of monocular chronic simple glaucoma, glaucoma associated with posterior dislocation or subluxation of the lens and glaucoma associated with retinal detachment.