Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Abstract

It is now generally accepted that there are two fundamentally different types of primary glaucoma, the so-called wide-angle (open-angle) and the narrow-angle (angleclosure) glaucoma. While the two types have in common an obstruction to outflow of aqueous from the anterior chamber, and hence an elevated ocular tension, which resultsoss of function of the eye, there is a fundamental difference in the two types in respect to the mechanism of the obstruction to outflow. In wide-wide-(hereinafter referred to as open-angle, aqueous has access to the filtration apparatus all times, and the obstruction to outflow of aqueous resides in the filtration apparatus itself(cmeshwork, Schlemm'squeous veins). In narrowangle glaucoma (hereinafter referred to as angle-closurehe filtration apparatusfirst normal, and obstruction to outflow is due solely to closure of the angle by contact between the iris root and the trabecular hence prevention of access of aqueous to the filtration apparatus. At a later stage, after