Haemolytic glaucoma occurring in phakic eyes.

The occurrence of haemolytic glaucoma in phakic eyes due to ghost cells has not previously been reported. Three cases of haemolytic glaucoma occurring over two years after massive vitreous haemorrhage in patients with an intact lens iris diaphragm are described. In one case there was histological confirmation of the presence of ghost cells in the anterior chamber. The mechanism proposed for the passage of ghost cells to the anterior chamber is through a defect in the anterior hyaloid face, created as the vitreous liquefies and degenerates. The reported cases were satisfactorily treated by trabeculectomy with anterior chamber washout, which management has not previously been reported in haemolytic glaucoma.