In buphthalmos, lens is –
**Core Concept**
Buphthalmos, also known as infantile or congenital glaucoma, is a condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in infants and young children. This leads to enlargement of the eyeball and subsequent stretching of the ocular structures, including the lens.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
In buphthalmos, the lens is displaced downward and outward due to the increased IOP, which causes the ciliary body to become stretched and the zonular fibers to become lax. This results in the lens being pushed away from its normal position, often resulting in a lens that is displaced or dislocated. The increased IOP also causes the lens to become more spherical in shape, leading to a condition known as ectopia lentis.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** This option is incorrect because in buphthalmos, the lens is not typically described as being "luxated" or "subluxated" in the same way that it is in other conditions, such as traumatic or Marfan syndrome-related ectopia lentis.
* **Option B:** This option is incorrect because the lens in buphthalmos is not typically described as being "mature" or "adult-like" in appearance, as this would be more characteristic of other conditions such as cataract formation.
* **Option C:** This option is incorrect because the lens in buphthalmos is not typically described as being "opacified" or "cloudy" in appearance, as this would be more characteristic of other conditions such as cataract formation.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
One important clinical correlation to remember is that buphthalmos is often associated with other systemic conditions, such as neurofibromatosis type 1, Marfan syndrome, and congenital rubella syndrome. A high index of suspicion for these conditions should be maintained in any infant or child presenting with buphthalmos.
**Correct Answer:** C. Displaced downward and outward