What is Closed Angle Glaucoma

Due to its sudden onset, angle-closure glaucoma, also known as closed-angle glaucoma, is considered a medical emergency. People who experience sudden attacks of angle-closure glaucoma suffer severe symptoms, including: eye pain, headaches, haloes around lights, dilated pupils, vision loss, red eyes, nausea and vomiting. Each attack of angle-closure glaucoma takes with it a part of the sufferer's vision.

While glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, most people do not suffer the acute attacks of angle-closure glaucoma. Accounting for only 10 percent of all American glaucoma cases, angle-closure glaucoma usually only occurs in one eye at first, which is affected when the colored part of the eye, the iris, and the lens block the movement of fluid between the chambers of the eye, causing pressure to build up and causing the iris to press on the eye's drainage system. This pressure can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and possible blindness. Other conditions, such as defects in the iris or a tumor or injury, may push the iris forward into a position where it is blocking the eye's drainage system.

Because angle-closure glaucoma suddenly increases eye pressure and rapidly damages the optic nerve, immediate medial treatment is necessary. Medication may be used to lower the eye pressure after a sudden attack. The drainage system may be opened through the use of medications that typically constrict the pupil. It may take more than one medication for the pressure to be relieved, and if the medication doesn't immediately ease the pressure, emergency surgery may be necessary.

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