What is buphthalmos?

Buphthalmos is defined as an abnormal enlargement of the eyeball, typically associated with increased intraocular pressure, most commonly seen in cases of congenital glaucoma. This condition leads to a notable increase in eye size, as the fluid pressure within the eye exceeds normal levels, causing the globe to expand.

The other options describe different ocular conditions that do not correlate directly with the definition of buphthalmos. Retinal detachment refers to a separation of the retina from the underlying tissue, which is not characteristic of eye enlargement. Anterior chamber collapse indicates a different pathology where the space in the front part of the eye is reduced, usually due to insufficient intraocular pressure. Finally, glaucoma-associated vision loss pertains to damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision resulting from prolonged elevated intraocular pressure but does not specifically describe the enlargement of the eye itself. Thus, the fundamental aspect of buphthalmos is its association with the increase in eye size due to elevated pressure conditions.