Glaucoma

Hallo,
I was diagnosed with a high pressure in both my eyes 4 months ago. My ophtalmologist said I had a closed angle and wanted to do an iridotomy the next day. As I was scared (I had never heard about that) I went to another ophtamologist to have a second opinion. He said I had an open angle and put me on Xalatan, which is working very well.
On Monday during a check-up my pupils were dilated, and shortly afterwards I felt a very high pressure in my eyes, which, however, vanished after a few minutes.
A high pressure after the pupils have been dilated is a sign of closed-angle glaucoma, isn't it? And for that sort of glaucoma Xalatan should not be taken. Can I go on taking that drug?
I can't ask my doctor, as he is convinced that my angle is open.
But after all the first doctor may have been right.
I am confused.
Thanks for your answers.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Dilating the pupils can cause an attack of angle closure glaucoma in suseptabe individuals but even normal open angles may have a modest increase of IOP (intraocular pressure).

It is absolutely critical to determine whether you have POAG primary open agle glaucoma or ACG angle closure glaucoma.

I would suggest you see a glaucoma specialist for a second opinion and a determination for sure whther your angles are open or closed. You can find on at www.aao.org use the Find An Eye MD feature.

This is very, very important. Act on it now.

JCH III MD