Acute Glaucoma

This condition is more likely to happen in long sighted people who have a naturally shallow anterior chamber. This is because the iris is very close to the back of the cornea causing a narrow angle which can block of suddenly. This results in a sudden and very high increase of intraocular pressure. The eye will be very painful red and the vision blurred. This condition is treated as an ophthalmic emergency.

• Treatment of acute glaucoma is initially with drugs to reduce the pressure within the eye.
• To prevent further attacks a a quick and relatively painless procedure called a laser iridotomy can be performed.
• This is done an out patient under local anaesthetic.
• The Laser spots are used to make a small hole in the iris providing a bypass for the aqueous humour to reach the trabecular meshwork

• Acute Glaucoma
• Digital Imaging for Glaucoma (OCT)
• Visual Fields Test
• International Glaucoma Association www.iga.org.uk

Treatments for this condition are:

• Viscocanalostomy
• Trabeculectomy