Acute angle closure typically causes severe eye pain, headache, nausea, blurred vision with haloes around lights, a red eye with a hazy cornea and a mid-dilated, poorly reactive pupil. Intraocular pressure is high on measurement.
It is an emergency: arrange same-day ophthalmic care, and follow your local protocol for lowering pressure while awaiting definitive treatment.
- Look for pain, nausea, haloes and a hazy cornea.
- Check for a mid-dilated, poorly reactive pupil.
- Measure intraocular pressure if equipment is available.
- Arrange same-day ophthalmology review.
Why it matters
Delay can cause permanent optic nerve damage and vision loss.
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