New findings in the diagnosis and treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness worldwide. In the next years, approximately one-fourth of all glaucoma cases will be angle-closure types. Older age, female sex, and Asian ethnicities are described risk factors as well as shorter axial length, shallow anterior chamber depth, lens position, and thickness. New findings suggest iris volume and choroidal thickness to have a key role in the mechanisms of angle closure. Classical clinical conditions are acute, intermittent, and chronic forms. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of angle closure, helping the ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and treatment. The therapy includes laser iridotomy, argon laser peripheral iridoplasty, lens extraction, goniosynechialysis, filtering surgery, drainage implant, and cyclodestruction.