Puja Eye Hospital

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Conditions

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Conditions

Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma, sometimes called narrow-angle glaucoma, occurs when the eye's drainage angle becomes narrow or blocked, preventing fluid from draining properly. This can develop gradually (chronic angle-closure) or suddenly (acute angle-closure, a medical emergency).

What it is

Angle-closure glaucoma, sometimes called narrow-angle glaucoma, occurs when the eye's drainage angle becomes narrow or blocked, preventing fluid from draining properly. This can develop gradually (chronic angle-closure) or suddenly (acute angle-closure, a medical emergency).

Symptoms and warning signs

Chronic angle-closure often has no early symptoms. Acute angle-closure causes sudden eye pain, blurred vision, halos around lights, headache, nausea, and a red eye, and needs immediate medical attention.

Causes / risk factors

More common in people with naturally narrow drainage angles — related to eye shape, and to some extent family history and age.

How it's diagnosed

Gonioscopy is the key test, directly examining whether the drainage angle is narrow or closed. OCT and pressure measurement complete the assessment.

Treatment approach

Laser peripheral iridotomy — creating a small opening in the iris to improve drainage — is a common first step. See laser iridotomy and iridoplasty. More advanced cases may need surgery.

Frequently asked questions

Acute angle-closure is — sudden eye pain with blurred vision and halos around lights needs urgent care. Chronic angle-closure isn't typically an emergency, but does need timely treatment.

In many cases, yes — that's specifically why laser iridotomy is used, to reduce the risk of an acute angle-closure episode by improving drainage.

Narrow angles are often present in both eyes, so if one eye is affected, the other is often assessed and sometimes treated preventatively too.
Related conditions & treatments
Laser iridotomy and iridoplasty Uveitic glaucoma Neovascular glaucoma Comprehensive glaucoma evaluation Trabeculectomy Primary open-angle glaucoma Laser trabeculoplasty Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) Pigmentary glaucoma Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma Secondary glaucoma Glaucoma drainage device (tube shunt) Glaucoma suspect and ocular hypertension Normal-tension glaucoma Angle-closure glaucoma
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