Acute Glaucoma

Acute glaucoma

        Acute glaucoma is a major and rapid increase of pressure within the eye (50 mm Hg) due to a blockage of the flow of liquid through the iris, which is pressed against the cornea. In some eyes (hyperopia), the space between the lens and the iris is abnormally narrow, moving forward through the pupil is blocked, the fluid pushes the iris and the fact bomber forward against the cornea. It is manifested by headaches, pain around the eye, nausea, eye redness, blurred vision and halos. If it is not treated promptly, acute glaucoma can cause irreversible damage. It's an emergency.

Acute glaucoma cure

        Laser surgery or microsurgery aimed to make an opening in the periphery of the iris (peripheral iridectomy) to allow aqueous humor to pass from the rear to the front of the iris and reducing intraocular pressure. If this treatment is done early enough, the vision is preserved.

Acute glaucoma preventive treatment

        When factors like: narrow angle, small hyperopic eye, large lens, favor the closure of the angle, a preventive treatment may be indicated. Inside the eye between the cornea and iris, is a space called the anterior chamber. This space is filled with a fluid called aqueous humor. This clear liquid has several functions: it maintains the intraocular pressure, gives shape to the eyeball and nourishes the cornea and lens. The aqueous humor is constantly renewed and circulates into the eye.

        In glaucoma, a problem of excretion of aqueous humor through its way out occurs. The excretion of fluid is slowed down gradually, leading to open angle glaucoma or is blocked quickly, which causes a narrow-angle glaucoma. When the pressure inside the eye increases, the fibers of the retina and optic nerve are affected. Small areas of the retina become insensitive to UV light.