New hypothesis of developmental anomalies of the anterior chamber associated with glaucoma.

The group of congenital and developmental anomalies of the anterior chamber associated with increased intraocular pressure has been difficult to interpret from an embryologic perspective which would take into account the ocular defects as well as associated systemic abnormalities. A new hypothesis is presented which suggests that the ocular and systemic defects can be explained by abnormalities in migration or terminal induction of neural-crest cells. These cells represent the initial population which differentiates into the diversity of cell types that appear to be involved in both the ocular and systemic manifestation of this group of anterior chamber anomalies.