Monnett Eye & Optical Center

Narrow Angle Glaucoma

(also called Closed-Angle Glaucoma)

Glaucoma is often called "the sneak thief of sight." This is because, in most cases of glaucoma the intraocular pressure of the eye can build up and destroy sight without causing obvious symptoms.

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye. There are two main types of glaucoma:Open-angle glaucoma and Closed-angle glaucoma.

Narrow angle Glaucoma accounts for approximately <10% of glaucoma cases in the Uniutes States. About 10% of these patients present with acute angle closure crises. Acute angle closure is an ocular emergency which is characterized by:
  • Sudden ocular pain
  • Seeing halos around lights
  • Red eye
  • Very high intraocular pressure (>30 mmHg),
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sudden decreased vision
  • A fixed, mid-dilated pupil. Acute angle closure is an ocular emergency.


Treatment of Narrow-Angle Glaucoma

Since the damage caused to the optic nerve by glaucoma can be irreversible, it is important to reduce intraocular pressure as soon as possible!

Methods to reduce IOP include a variety of pharmaceuticals and/or surgical techniques:
  • Intraocular pressure can be lowered with medication, usually eye drops. There are several different classes of medications to treat glaucoma with several different medications in each class. Each of these medicines may have local and systemic side effects.
  • Both laser and conventional surgeries are performed to treat glaucoma. Surgery is the primary therapy for those with congenital glaucoma. Generally, these operations are a temporary solution, as there is not yet a cure for glaucoma.



Causes of Narrow-Angle Glaucoma


  • Pupillary block. In narrow angle glaucoma, the iris is pushed forward, blocking fluid from escaping..
  • Hyperopia. Which is seeing distant objects better than close ones (Farsighted people may have narrow filtering angles, which predispose them to acute (sudden) attacks of closed-angle glaucoma.)
  • Hypertension. A number of studies also suggest a possible correlation between hypertension and the development of glaucoma.
  • People with small eyes. People with small eyes are predisposed to developing closed-angle glaucoma because they tend to have narrow filtering angles. Small eyes are not obvious from their appearance, but they can be measured by an eye doctor.