Summary

• Acute angle-closure glaucoma is an urgent but uncommon, dramatic symptomatic event with blurring of vision, painful red eye, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
• Diagnosis is made by noting high intra-ocular pressure, corneal oedema, shallow anterior chamber, and a closed angle on gonioscopy.
• Medical or surgical therapy is directed at widening the angle and preventing further angle closure.
• If glaucoma has developed it is treated with therapies to lower intra-ocular pressure.
• Chronic angle-closure glaucoma is diagnosed by noting peripheral anterior synechiae on gonioscopy, as well as progressive damage to the optic nerve and characteristic visual field loss. It is also treated with therapies to lower intra-ocular pressure.