Increased episcleral venous pressure can:
**Core Concept**
Increased episcleral venous pressure is a condition where there is elevated pressure in the veins of the episclera, the thin layer of tissue covering the sclera of the eye. This can lead to various ocular complications due to impaired venous outflow.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Increased episcleral venous pressure can lead to **buphthalmos**, a condition characterized by an enlarged eyeball in infants, typically due to congenital glaucoma. This is because the elevated pressure in the episcleral veins causes the eyeball to grow in size, leading to a range of complications including vision loss. The mechanism involves impaired aqueous humor outflow, leading to increased intraocular pressure, which in turn causes the episcleral veins to become distended.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because increased episcleral venous pressure is not directly related to **arterial pressure**. While both can affect the eyes, they are separate entities with distinct pathophysiological mechanisms.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because **choroidal hemorrhage** is not a direct consequence of increased episcleral venous pressure. Choroidal hemorrhage is typically associated with increased intraocular pressure and other factors.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The **Haab's striae**, or radial tears in the sclera, are a classic sign of increased episcleral venous pressure, particularly in cases of congenital glaucoma.
**Correct Answer: D. Buphthalmos**