Secondary glaucoma as a result of a sling shot accident, diagnosed half a century later

Secondary glaucoma following blunt trauma is relatively uncommon in regular optometric practice. Onset of this type of glaucoma may occur within weeks, but may also be delayed several decades. This case report presents a 57 year old male who, 48 years ago, suffered a sling shot accident yet was only recently diagnosed with traumatic glaucoma in his left eye. The trauma caused severely reduced vision in his left eye but, aside from this, the patient did not report any eye- or vision problems and he had never had an eye examination as an adult. He successfully wore ready-made glasses for near work. While all findings were normal in his right eye, his left eye showed reduced vision, inferionasal iridodialysis, angle recession, increased intraocular pressure and heavily excavated optic nerve head. The patient was referred to an ophthalmologist who confirmed unilateral glaucoma. The case report reviews situations where secondary glaucoma from blunt trauma may occur, which ocular signs might be present and which ocular examinations should be undertaken. Further, the importance of following up patients with ocular trauma is discussed.