Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Buphthalmosis an enlargement of the eye due toraised eye pressurethat is present at birth or soon after. This is a rare condition that is present in about 1 in 30,000 births. It requires prompt treatment to preserve sight.
The term buphthalmos comes from Greek roots and means “ox-eyed.” The ancient physician Hippocrates described it in 400 BC.
This article will take a closer look at buphthalmos, what the symptoms are, what causes this to occur, how to detect the condition, the diagnostic factors, and what treatments to consider.
isayildiz/ Getty Images

Other symptoms that someone with buphthalmos may have can include:
Buphthalmos is often linked to congenitalglaucomacases in which the eye’s drainage system does not develop correctly in the first months of life. As the fluid builds up in the eye, the pressure rises. In glaucoma, increased eye pressure damages theoptic nerve.
Some conditions besides glaucoma that have been linked to buphthalmos include:
Determining if someone has buphthalmos requires an eye examination. For young children, this may be done under anesthesia. The examination will likely include the following:
Treatment for buphthalmos revolves around identifying the condition as early as possible to help preserve sight since this can affect the optic nerve. This may involve the use of pressure-lowering medication or performing glaucoma surgery. In some cases, these may be used in combination.
Medications used here may include:
Surgery is another option for lowering pressure. There are four major approaches that are taken here. Possible procedures here include the following:
Summary
Buphopthalmus is a rare condition present at birth. An increase in eye pressure, usually in a child’s pliable eye, causes the globe to grow larger in one or both eyes. It’s important to detect it as early as possible in order to preserve sight. Treatment can include medication, surgery, or some combination of these.
A Word From Verywell
While noticing that something is amiss with one or both of your child’s eyes can be alarming, these days, healthcare providers understand how to best treat this troubling eye condition. There is, fortunately, no shortage of approaches for managing the increased eye pressure associated with buphthalmos and helping to preserve your child’s vision.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Optometry.Bupthalmos: management and treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Primary congenital glaucoma.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Aniridia.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Neurofibromatosis.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Sturge-Weber syndrome.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Optometry.Bupthalmos: management and treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Primary congenital glaucoma.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Aniridia.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Neurofibromatosis.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Sturge-Weber syndrome.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Optometry.Bupthalmos: management and treatment.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Primary congenital glaucoma.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Aniridia.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Neurofibromatosis.American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Sturge-Weber syndrome.
American Academy of Optometry.Bupthalmos: management and treatment.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Primary congenital glaucoma.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Aniridia.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Neurofibromatosis.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.Sturge-Weber syndrome.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?