The goal of  narrow-angle glaucoma treatment is to reduce intraocular pressure as soon as possible. This can be done with systemic medications taken orally or sometimes given intravenously. Topical eye drops for glaucoma also are often used to treat narrow-angle glaucoma. Frequently, laser and/or nonlaser glaucoma surgery may be required to reduce the IOP. The treatment for narrow-angle glaucoma is known as a peripheral iridectomy. This is a laser procedure that creates a new opening in the iris to allow the aqueous fluid to move more easily to the drainage site. The peripheral iridectomy is usually performed in the doctor’s office and is generally performed on both eyes because the risk of developing the condition in both eyes is high. Systemic...

An eye exam may be used to diagnose glaucoma. The doctor will need to examine the inside of the eye by looking through the pupil, often while the pupil is dilated. The doctor will usually perform a complete eye exam. During eye exams, your doctor will use tonometry to check your eye pressure. After applying numbing drops, the tonometer is gently pressed against the eye and its resistance is measured and recorded.  Tonometry is used to check your eye pressure          An ophthaolmoscope can be used to examine the shape and color of your optic nerve. The ophthalmoscope magnifies and lights up the inside of the eye. If the optic nerve appears to be cupped or is not a healthy pink color, additional tests will be run.  Pressure in the eye is...

Acute narrow angle glaucoma occurs primarily in patients who have a shallow space between the cornea at the front of the eye and the colored iris that lies just behind the cornea. As the eye ages, the natural lens behind the pupil grows and the pupil becomes smaller, restricting the flow of fluid to the drainage site. Fluid can build up behind the iris, pushing it forward and blocking the channel (angle) that normally allows aqueous fluid to drain. If blockage happens, a rapid rise in intraocular pressure can occur. Pupillary block.  Eye fluid known as the aqueous humor is produced in the ciliary body, which is located behind the iris. Normally, the aqueous flows easily through the pupil into the front or anterior chamber of the eye. But if the back...

Narrow angle glaucoma symptoms usually last as long as the pressure inside the eye remains high.Narrow angle glaucoma is usually very painful because of the sudden increase in pressure inside the eye. In some cases, when the drainage angle is only partially or temporarily blocked, there can be warning attacks such as blurry vision and the appearance of colored halos around lights. Warning attacks can also include severe pain and redness. If the drainage angle is completely blocked, an acute attack will almost certainly develop. Symptoms may include: Inflammation and pain Pressure over the eye Moderate pupil dilation that’s non-reactive to light Cloudy cornea Blurring and decreased visual acuity Extreme sensitivity to light Seeing halos around lights Nausea and/or vomiting In many...

Glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight." This is because, in most cases of glaucoma the intraocular pressure of the eye can build up and destroy sight without causing obvious symptoms. Acute narrow angle glaucoma (also called angle closure glaucoma) is one of the two basic categories of glaucoma. The other category is open angle glaucoma. There are anatomical factors in the eye which will cause a narrow or smaller space between the peripheral iris and trabecular meshwork. This happens when the drainage canals get blocked or covered over. The iris gets pushed against the lens of the eye, shutting off the drainage angle. Sometimes the lens and the iris stick to each other. This results in pressure increasing suddenly, usually in one eye. There may be a feeling of...