Common Causes And Complications Of A Port Wine Stain

Glaucoma

Patients who have a port-wine stain on the face or near the eyelid are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma. This eye condition elevates the pressure inside of the eyes, and it can lead to vision loss if left untreated. While it is possible to have glaucoma in both eyes, patients with port-wine stains tend to develop glaucoma in the eye closest to the birthmark. Patients who have port-wine stains should have regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist or optometrist to monitor their eye pressure and vision. During the exam, the doctor will check the patient's visual acuity, and they will also measure the pressure in both eyes. The measurements can be taken with a machine called a non-contact tonometer. This instrument emits a puff of air that flattens the cornea, and the machine measures how much resistance is present. Normal eye pressure measurements range from twelve to twenty-one, and the average eye pressure is fifteen. To reduce elevated eye pressure, doctors often begin by prescribing medicated eye drops such as beta-blockers, prostaglandins, and alpha-adrenergic agonists. Oral medications such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may be prescribed if eye pressure does not improve with eye drops alone. Patients who have open-angle glaucoma can sometimes be treated with laser therapy, and surgical procedures such as filtering and drainage tube insertion could be considered.

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