The visual field and nerve head in angle-closure glaucoma. A comparison of the effects of acute and chronic angle closure.

Eighteen unilaterally affected acute angle-closure glaucoma patients were seen a period of time after the acute episode, and 11 unilateral chronic angle-closure patients were seen while under control. Visual fields, optic nerve heads, and vision were assessed using the normal eye as a control. Nerve fiber bundle defects were seen in seven of the acute and nine of the chronic angle-closure cases. None of the acute, but five of the chronic angle-closure patients, showed asymmetry of cupping, while pallor was seen in seven of the acute and nine of the chronic patients. No significant difference in reduction of vision was seen between the two groups. The duration of pressure is a possible reason for cupping in glaucoma.