Care For Your Elder

Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) occurs when there is a sudden or rapid increased pressure of the eye.  If the angle closes suddenly the symptoms are very severe and dramatic.  These symptoms include severe eye pain, blurred vision, headache, rainbow haloes around lights, nausea, profuse tearing, and vomiting.  This type of glaucoma usually occurs in one eye.  Urgent treatment in an emergency room is needed as the damage to the optic nerve occurs within hours of the blockage.  The blockage in acute-angled closure glaucoma usually requires surgery to remove the blockage.

People who are farsighted (hyperopia – where people can see real far away and need glasses to see up close) have an increased risk for acute angle-closure glaucoma because the chambers in the back of the eye are shallow and the angles are narrow.  As with other forms of glaucoma AACG elderly people in their 60’s and 70’s are more at risk.  Fewer than 10% of all glaucoma cases in the USA are acute angle-closure and in Asia it is more common than open-angle glaucoma. Other risk factors include a family history of AACG, having glaucoma in one eye, and previous injury to the eye.

There are not any preventive measures that you can take to reduce the risk of AACG.  The outcome is good for people who seek immediate medical treatment.  Vision loss can occur without prompt treatment.  Since you can’t tell if you have narrow angles, it is most important to have annual eye examinations. 

If your physician deems that you are of very high risk for developing AACG there is a laser surgery that may be helpful.  This video explains that surgery.

Tags: acute angle closure glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, elderly care, eye pressure, glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, high eye pressure, high pressure inside the eye, optic nerve, vision loss