Angle-closure glaucoma (also called narrow-angle glaucoma) happens when the natural drainage channel in your eye becomes blocked. This prevents fluid from flowing out normally, causing eye pressure to rise quickly. If not treated right away, this pressure can damage the optic nerve and cause permanent vision loss.
What Happens During an Attack
Inside your eye, a clear fluid (called aqueous humor) is made and drained all the time. In some people, the space where the fluid drains — called the angle — is too narrow. When this space closes suddenly, the fluid can't escape, and pressure builds up fast. This is called an acute angle-closure attack, and it is an emergency.
Warning Signs and Symptoms
An angle-closure attack often starts suddenly and can be very painful. Common symptoms include severe eye pain or headache, blurred vision, seeing halos or rainbows around lights, nausea or vomiting, eye redness, and sudden loss of vision. If you ever notice these symptoms, go to an eye doctor or emergency room immediately. Quick treatment can save your vision.
Who Is at Risk?
Some people are more likely to develop narrow angles or angle-closure glaucoma, including people who are farsighted (hyperopic), adults over 50 years old, women (more often than men), people of Asian or Inuit background, and anyone with a family history of angle-closure glaucoma. Regular eye exams can detect narrow angles before they cause problems. Your eye doctor can use special imaging or a simple exam to check the drainage angle in your eye.
Medications That Can Trigger an Attack
Certain medications can dilate (widen) your pupils or change the way fluid flows inside the eye, which can trigger an angle-closure attack if your angles are already narrow. These include allergy and cold medicines such as diphenhydramine or pseudoephedrine, antidepressants (especially older types like amitriptyline), medications for bladder control or Parkinson's disease, and migraine medicine such as topiramate (Topamax). Always tell your eye doctor about all your medications. If you have narrow angles, they may recommend a laser procedure called a peripheral iridotomy (LPI) to prevent attacks by creating a small opening that helps fluid drain normally.
Protecting Your Vision
The best way to prevent vision loss from angle-closure glaucoma is early detection and treatment. At Inland Glaucoma Center, we use advanced imaging to check your eye's drainage system and offer laser treatments to keep your eye pressure under control and your vision safe. We are board-certified ophthalmologists — MDs who specialize in eye care and eye surgery. Our goal is to protect your vision. </content>