Graphic: Glaucoma Research Foundation

This is part two of a two-part series on glaucoma that includes the main types of the disease, the symptoms and risk factors, and treatments available to combat the disease.

In last week’s post, the focus was on the most common form of glaucoma, open-angle, which affects about three million Americans and accounts for 90 percent of all glaucoma cases. The next most common type is called closed-angle glaucoma (also known as narrow-angle glaucoma and/or angle-closure glaucoma).

Closed-Angle Glaucoma

While the drainage canals are also blocked as with open-angle glaucoma and this causes eye pressure, in this form of the disease, the angles are narrow or closed, which can result in sudden, severe pain, requiring immediate medical attention.

Risk Factors

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, people with a family history of closed-angle glaucoma, those of Asian descent, and people with hyperopia (farsightedness) tend to be at risk of developing this type of glaucoma. As with glaucoma in general, age is also a factor. 

Symptoms and Treatment

Typically, closed-angle glaucoma is a medical emergency with an onset of severe eye pain, blurry vision, a headache, nausea, and seeing halos around lights. People at risk for developing this form of glaucoma often have no symptoms ahead of an acute attack. Once an acute attack happens, the patient will need to seek medical care straight away, otherwise, they risk permanent vision loss in that eye.

However, yearly eye exams can help in detecting this form of the disease, which can allow the patient the opportunity to have an iridectomy performed in a non-emergency situation. An iridectomy is a procedure whereby a laser beam is used to create a drainage hole in the iris, which provides relief of eye pressure. The procedure is done on an out-patient basis and has minimal recovery time.

Don’t let glaucoma steal your vision, contact All About Eyes and get your eyes examined today!