Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma Symptoms

With acute angle-closure glaucoma, because the rise in pressure is rapid, the symptoms also occur suddenly. Understandably, people who are experiencing acute angle-closure glaucoma are extremely uncomfortable and distressed.

Dramatic symptoms of acute angle-closure glaucoma include the following:

• Severe eye pain
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• Nausea and vomiting
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• Headache
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• Blurred vision and/or seeing haloes around lights (Haloes and blurred vision occur because the cornea is swollen.)
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• Profuse tearing

In acute attacks of angle-closure glaucoma, it is common for only one eye to be involved and for symptoms to worsen.

Some people may experience intermittent episodes of angle closure and elevated IOP without ever having a full-blown attack of angle-closure glaucoma. This is called subacute angle-closure glaucoma.

People with subacute angle-closure glaucoma may have no symptoms, or they may experience mild pain, have slightly blurred vision, or see haloes around lights. These symptoms resolve spontaneously as the angle reopens.