Eye Doctor, Dr. Almallah's Corner

Serving New Jersey, Monmouth County, & Ocean County

“A Sense of Angle Closure”

Although it affects less than 10 percent of patients with glaucoma, angle closure
glaucoma is the most serious form of the disease. It is caused by an anatomical problem, a narrowing in the angle of the interior chamber, the passageway that leads to the trabecular meshwork at the root of the iris. As a result of this narrowing, aqueous fluid cannot flow freely out of the eye through the trabecular meshwork, causing a “back up” and raised pressure within the eye. Eventually, when the eye pressure rises to a very high level, a person will experience a painful, red eye as well as nausea and a severe headache. These symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention for treatment to preserve vision.  Glaucoma refers to a group of disorders that lead to damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve causes vision loss, which may progress to blindness.