What is ICE syndrome? Well, ICE is an acronym for Irido Corneal Endothelial Syndrome. ICE syndrome is considered to be a uni-lateral disorder.
This syndrome is known to be develop somewhere in between young and middle adulthood. It is known to affect females more rather than males.
This syndrome has also been diagnosed in kids in a few rare cases. Even bilateral occurrence of ICE is often contemplated.
Most people who suffer from ICE syndrome are known to develop secondary glaucoma.
What is ICE Syndrome: ICE is a very rarely occurring glaucoma. The most interesting aspect of ICE is that glaucoma is only caused in one eye.
In patients who are diagnosed with ICE the following complications have been observed:
- cells that exist on the rear surface of the cornea scatter over the eye’s drainage tissue
- the scattering of the cells leads to an eye pressure increase
- eye pressure increase would result in the damage of the optic nerve
- the scattered cells also tend to act as adhesives enabling the iris and cornea to stick together
- the joining of the iris and cornea would lead to a further blockage of the eye’s drainage channels.
Glaucoma and ICE Syndrome: The actual pathophysiological mechanism of ICE syndrome is still a mystery. But the existence of the cells that cause the chronic inflammation in the cornea imply the origin of a virus within the eye.
The reason for the development of glaucoma in patients affected with ICE syndrome is probably due to an abnormal cell membrane that acts as an obstruction in the eye.
Symptoms Of ICE: ICE has many symptoms that can be related to glaucoma. The most common symptoms are:
- misty vision upon awakening in the morning
- appearance of halos around sources of light
- intolerance of light(photo phobic in only some cases)
Treatment: ICE syndrome is quiet a difficult one to treat. No laser surgery can be recommended for the treatment of ICE. The best possible way to deal with ICE syndrome is through constant medications. In a few case filter surgery can be recommended.
I hope, now you must have got an answer to the question “what is ICE syndrome?”.
