narrowed angles

[kathym920]

I was recently diagnosed with narrowed angles in otherwise healthy eyes. My Dr. had me make an appt. for next year, but I am now wondering if I should have laser surgery. Do narrowed angles always result in glaucoma?

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

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[kathym920]

Again, thank you so much for your help.

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

Increased risk (not high risk) other factors are if you are Asian or eskimo they have much higher risk of ACG than occidentals.

This is all the information I can give you.  You will need to wait to talk to the glaucoma specialist.

JCH MD

[kathym920]

I see I failed to mention That I am 65 years old, farsighted, and have a sketchy family history at best. Does that in fact put me in a high risk category for ACG?

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

Getting the second opinion is appropriate. Changes are you will be reassured that you so nor have occludable angles and the risk of ever developing angle closure glaucoma is small  (note ACG usually occurs in farsighted people, often with a family hx of ACG and usually greater than 50 years old)

JC MD

[kathym920]

One more thing. My Dr. said I have healthy eyes, and no Glaucoma. When I read back what I had written to you it looked like He had diagnosed Glaucoma which he had not.

[kathym920]

I so appreciate you taking the time to write. I think I became so worried because I left my Dr's office with many questions. When he discovered this problem he started by saying that this is the worse type of Glaucoma to have. He spoke of the pain and eventual blindness that may occur. I was in shock, and neglected to ask the questions that I thought of later. I have made an appt. for a second opinon with an opthahamologist whose specialty is Glaucoma. Thank you again for easing my mind a bit.

[kathym920]

Is a year an appropriate amount of time to wait while observing? And , can this condition ever be genetic? If I were to have the laser surgery done, would that prevent an acute closure attack?

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

There is a big difference between narrow angles that are "occludable" and those that are narrow and NOT occludable. The first can cause an attack of angle closure and needs a laser iridotomiy. The latter just needs to be observed to be sure it does not morph into occludable.

JCH MD