I learned about acute angle-closure glaucoma from a home video, it was the story of a man who was not born blind and was doing quite well until he became blind after some time, after several consultations and diagnoses, it was discovered that he suffered from glaucoma and certainly, I was interested in knowing more as to what could possibly cause the disorder to happen to a person.
Acute angle closure glaucoma does not just lead to vision loss instantly, it is rather defined by an increased intraocular pressure that results in optic neuropathy. This means the pressure inside the eye goes up suddenly, it could even rise within a matter of hours. It usually happens when the fluid in the eye doesn't drain out in a way that it should, this type of glaucoma is rather rare, it isn't as common as others.
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Usually, fluid gets drained out of the eyes through a system of canals, these canals live in a mesh tissue between the iris and the cornea. When the iris and the cornea get close, the angle between them closes and it happens suddenly creating a painful and acute attack.
When acute angle closure glaucoma happens, it blocks the canals completely, stopping the fluid from flowing through them. Pressure builds up and when it happens, it could damage the optic nerve, when there is no adequate treatment, loss of vision is apparent.
Women are more prone to acute angle closure glaucoma than men, and older adults between the ages of 55 and 65 are more prone too. Some of the health conditions that could develop into glaucoma are; uveitis, tumors, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, ectopic lens, and ocular ischemia.
It is possible to inherit acute angle closure glaucoma, so families who have relatives with the condition will possibly have it too.
The symptoms usually come so fast that it is impossible to ignore; a blurry or hazy vision, eye pain, nausea or vomiting, seeing rainbows, and serious headache. It is also more common among Southeast Asians, Eskimos, and Chinese, but not so common among black populations.
Some situations could trigger acute glaucoma in those with an underlying predisposition. Acute glaucoma will most likely come when the pupil is dilated, so while watching a television it could happen. Some medications can also trigger the presence of acute glaucoma.
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In the case of treatment, the attack of acute angle closure glaucoma will be to eliminate the pressure placed in the eye, this is done through;
Taken medications that would lower the amount of fluid the eye makes.
Drops that would narrow the pupil.
Once it has been achieved that the IOP of the patients has dropped a little, the doctor may create a small hole in the iris that helps fluid to begin to flow back into the eyes or use the option of laser iridoplasty which is to pull the edges of the iris away from the drainage canals.
In the case of cataracts, the doctor may consider the use of surgery to replace the lens in the eye, although this surgery may be difficult in the case of an acute attack. Sometimes, acute angle closure glaucoma affects only one eye, but even at that, the doctor will treat both eyes just to be on the safe side. The best way to prevent an attack of acute angle closure glaucoma from having an effect on one's eye is through consistent eye checkups, especially if you are at risk of being affected.
References.
https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/acute-angle-closure-glaucoma
https://patient.info/eye-care/acute-angle-closure-glaucoma
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430857/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/glaucoma/
Hi, I am Tobi a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.