Acute glaucomas: diagnosis and treatment.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma is an uncommon disorder that must be diagnosed and managed quickly and effectively to prevent visual loss. Several conditions may appear as an acute angle-closure glaucoma and must be recognized since, in certain cases, treatment may be different from that required for an acute angle-closure attack. Once an acute angle-closure attack has been successfully managed through medical treatment, a laser iridotomy is indicated to prevent an attack from recurring.