PURPOSE
To identify which features of Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) were most associated with glaucoma onset, severity, and treatment failure at a tertiary care center.
DESIGN
Retrospective cross-sectional study.
SUBJECTS
Children who had SWS with and without glaucoma.
METHODS
Electronic health records were reviewed for all children with SWS presenting between 2014-2020. Examination and imaging findings from dermatology, neurology, and ophthalmology were collected. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with glaucoma-related outcomes.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Primary outcomes included glaucoma development, progression to surgery, and treatment failure. Failure was defined as having a final intraocular pressure >21 mmHg, devastating complication, or ≤20/200 vision.
RESULTS
Twenty-three of 44 SWS patients (52.3%) developed glaucoma, and 6 of 23 patients (26.1%) had both eyes affected. Sixteen of 29 eyes (55.2%) required surgery, and 29.6% overall met our failure criteria (mean follow-up: 5.1±4.3 years). Glaucoma diagnosis was associated with bilateral port wine birthmarks (PWB; OR 5.9; 95% CI 1.3-43.2), PWB with any lower eyelid involvement (OR 9.7, 95% CI 2.6-44.5), and choroidal hemangiomas (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.1-13.8), but was not associated with upper eyelid or leptomeningeal angiomas, seizures, prior hemispherectomy or pulsed-dye laser. Eyes that progressed to surgery were more likely to have PWB affecting the lower eyelid (OR 33.7, 95% CI 4.5-728.0). No clinical or demographic factors were associated with treatment failure. In most cases, angle surgery failed (72.7%) but was a temporizing measure before subconjunctival filtering surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
Lower eyelid and choroidal angiomas were associated with glaucoma diagnosis, suggesting a spatial relationship with SWS findings. However, leptomeningeal angiomas were not associated possibly because these are further from the eye.