Angle-Closure Glaucoma: How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Angle-closure glaucoma is less common than open-angle glaucoma, but it can come on quickly and needs urgent care. Fluid made inside the eye normally flows through the pupil and drains at the angle where the iris meets the cornea. In some eyes that angle is naturally narrow, leaving very little room for fluid to reach the drain. If the iris shifts forward and covers the angle, drainage can stop suddenly, and pressure inside the eye rises fast. An acute attack can cause severe eye pain, a red eye, blurred vision, rainbow halos around lights, headache, and even nausea and vomiting. This is a medical emergency. Sudden symptoms like these need same-day care, because high pressure can damage the optic nerve within hours. Doctors work quickly to lower the pressure with medicines, and a laser can make a tiny opening in the iris to let fluid pass through again. If an exam shows a narrow angle before any attack, that same laser treatment can often be done ahead of time as a precaution. This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Ask your eye doctor what's right for you.