It is much more common in people of Asian descent. In angle-closure glaucoma, the buildup of fluid occurs very rapidly. The iris is pushed up against the cornea so that the aqueous humor cannot get to the drain. The drain is blocked by the iris, causing the intraocular pressure to rise to high levels over a period of several hours. Patients usually notice blurring of vision, and the eye may become very painful.
Patients often experience nausea, vomiting and headache.
An attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma requires immediate medical attention. Permanent loss of vision or even blindness can occur in a matter of days without treatment. Glaucoma may develop secondary to other conditions that affect the eye. Common causes of secondary glaucoma include injury to the eye, diabetes, inflammation in the eye and certain medications, including corticosteroid.