Caption

Closed-angle glaucoma. Close-up of the eye of a 79-year-old female patient with closed-angle glaucoma. Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure of fluid inside the eyeball builds up to harmful levels. In closed-angle, or acute, glaucoma, there is a blockage of the outflow of aqueous humour, the fluid that fills the eye. This leads to a rapid rise in fluid pressure, which can cause severe pain, blurred vision and inflammation of the eye. Acute glaucoma is a medical emergency, and treatment includes eye drops and pills to reduce the pressure. Surgery is then normally required to re-open the blocked humour drainage channel. If untreated, it can cause blindness.