Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Background

Pathophysiology

• Obstructed aqueous outflow tract → aqueous humor builds up → increased intraocular pressure (IOP) → optic nerve damage → vision loss
• Increased posterior chamber pressure causes iris to bulge forward (iris bombé) → further obstruction of outflow tract → further increase IOP
• Acute attack is usually precipitated by pupillary dilation

Clinical Features

Ciliary/circumcorneal flush and hazy cornea characteristic of acute angle closure glaucoma.

Right eye with mid-sized, fixed pupil and ciliary flush.

• Abrupt onset of severe (usually unilateral) eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Frontal or supraorbital headache
• Nausea / vomiting / abdominal pain

Differential Diagnosis

Unilateral red eye

• Nontraumatic
  • Acute angle-closure glaucoma^
  • Anterior uveitis
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Corneal erosion
  • Corneal ulcer^
  • Endophthalmitis^
  • Episcleritis
  • Herpes zoster ophthalmicus
  • Inflamed pinguecula
  • Inflamed pterygium
  • Keratoconjunctivitis
  • Keratoconus
  • Nontraumatic iritis
  • Scleritis^
  • Subconjunctival hemorrhage
• Orbital trauma
  • Caustic keratoconjunctivitis^^
  • Corneal abrasion, Corneal laceration
  • Conjunctival hemorrhage
  • Conjunctival laceration
  • Globe rupture^
  • Hemorrhagic chemosis
  • Lens dislocation
  • Ocular foreign body
  • Posterior vitreous detachment
  • Retinal detachment
  • Retrobulbar hemorrhage
    • Ocular compartment syndrome
  • Traumatic hyphema
  • Traumatic iritis
  • Traumatic mydriasis
  • Traumatic optic neuropathy
  • Vitreous detachment
  • Vitreous hemorrhage
  • Ultraviolet keratitis

^Emergent diagnoses ^^Critical diagnoses

Diagnosis

• Fixed, midposition pupil
• Hazy cornea
• Conjunctival injection most prominent at limbus (ciliary flush)
• Rock-hard globe
• IOP >20 mm Hg
• Slit lamp exam shows shallow anterior chamber and cell and flare

Definition: 3 signs + 2 symptoms

• At least 3 of these signs:
  • IOP >21 mm Hg
  • Conjunctival injection
  • Corneal epithelial edema
  • Mid-dilated nonreactive pupil
  • Shallow anterior chamber with occlusion
• At least 2 of these symptoms:
  • Ocular pain
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • History of intermittent blurring of vision with halos

Treatment

Goal of medical therapy is to 'break the attack' in order to prepare the patient for laser iridotomy.

1. Emergent ophthalmology consult
2. Recheck IOP at least hourly
3. Supine position to decrease IOP
4. Place patient in a well lit room (prevent pupillary dilation)
5. Start with a topical beta-blocker, alpha blocker and PO acetazolamide if no contraindications

Decrease production of aqueous humor

Timolol 0.5%:

• Blocks beta receptors on ciliary epithelium
• 1 drop in affected eye, repeat in 1 hour if needed.

Acetazolamide:

• Blocks productions of HCO3-, which draws Na+ into the eye; water follows by osmosis to form aqueous humour
• 500mg IV or PO (PO preferred unless pt is nauseated)
• Can substitute methazolamide 100mg if pt has renal failure.

Dorzolamide (Trusopt) 2%:

• topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
• 1 drop in affected eye

Alpha blockade

Brimonidine (Alphagan) 0.2% OR Apraclonidine 1%:

• Alpha blockade will increase trabecular outflow
• 1 drop in affected eye

Facilitate outflow of aqueous humor

Pilocarpine 1%–2%:

• Parasympatholytic alkaloid acts on muscarinic receptors found on iris sphincter muscle → causes muscle to contract → miosis → pulls iris away from trabecular network
• 1 drop in affected eye every 15 minutes x 2-4 doses, then every 4 to 6 hours
• Likely does not work until IOP drops below 40-50 mmHg, but still give immediately upon diagnosis

Reduce volume of aqueous humor

These therapies are usually resolved for failure of other treatments. Hyper osmotic agents such as mannitol are effective but are contraindicated in renal failure and can cause hypotension in the volume depleted patient.

• Mannitol: 1-2 g/kg IV (most common)
• 50% glycerin (Osmoglyn) OR 45% isosorbide (Ismotic): 1.5 mL/kg PO (rarely used)

Steroids

Topical steroids not indicated during acute attack, but may help inflammation after IOP under control.

See Also

• Eye Algorithm (Main)