Zika can cause glaucoma in infants congenitally exposed to the virus, according to a new study published in the journal Ophthalmology.
Beyond microcephaly, a neurological birth defect characterized by babies born with abnormally small heads, Zika can cause a host of other developmental problems in children born to women infected with the virus while pregnant. Potential issues include walking late, learning disabilities and problems with the eyes. While Zika has previously been found to cause lesions in the retina, this new information marks the first time the mosquito-borne virus has been linked to glaucoma, a condition which can permanently damage the optic nerve and incite blindness.
While investigating cases of microcephaly in South America, researchers came across a three-month-old boy with congenital Zika. Though no signs of glaucoma were present at birth, the infant later developed pain and swelling in his right eye. The researchers diagnosed the child with glaucoma and with the aid of local ophthalmologists performed a trabeculectomy to relieve pressure in the eye.
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