What is acute angle-closure glaucoma?
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is an ophthalmological emergency that requires prompt and appropriate treatment to avoid serious complications, such as blindness. Therefore, it is essential to know the symptoms of this disease and to consult a specialist quickly in case of suspicion.
Dr Stéphanie Zwillinger speaks on this topic with journalist Esther Buitekant in this article in French weekly magazine Femme Actuelle.
Acute angle-closure glaucoma: explanations
Acute angle-closure glaucoma is a serious and painful eye condition characterized by a sudden and significant increase in pressure inside the eye.
This increase in intraocular pressure is due to a blockage of the circulation of aqueous humor through the angle formed by the iris and the cornea, thus preventing its normal evacuation.
When pressure increases suddenly, it can cause compression of the nerve fibers of the optic nerve, causing irreversible damage and progressive loss of vision.
What are the symptoms of acute angle closure glaucoma?
Symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma may include blurred vision, colored halos around lights, severe eye pain, headache, nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Stéphanie Zwillinger reminds you that it is essential to consult an ophthalmologist urgently if acute angle closure glaucoma is suspected, because the high pressure inside the eye can cause serious damage in only a few hours.
Diagnosis and treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma
Treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma requires immediate reduction of intraocular pressure to relieve pain and prevent eye damage.
This can be achieved using hypertonic eye drops or pilocarpine to dilate the pupil and facilitate the evacuation of aqueous humor, or by laser iridotomy to create a new passage for the fluid.
If resistance to medical treatment occurs, filtering surgery may be necessary to create artificial drainage of the aqueous humor and lower the pressure inside the eye. It is crucial to undergo regular ophthalmological follow-up to monitor the progression of the disease and adjust treatment if necessary.
To find out about the examinations and its diagnosis, and more on this subject, we invite you to click on the Femme Actuelle article below!