What is a common treatment for acute angle-closure glaucoma?

In acute angle-closure glaucoma, the intraocular pressure rises rapidly due to a blockage of the drainage angle where the aqueous humor exits the eye. The main goal of treatment is to lower this intraocular pressure and relieve the symptoms associated with this condition.

Intravenous acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that reduces the production of aqueous humor, effectively lowering intraocular pressure. This rapid intervention can help to stabilize the condition before further treatments, such as surgery, are considered.

Topical pilocarpine is a muscarinic agonist that stimulates the constriction of the iris sphincter muscle, which opens the trabecular meshwork and increases aqueous outflow. This can help to alleviate the acute rise in intraocular pressure by enhancing fluid drainage.

Oral beta-blockers can also be prescribed in the management of glaucoma, as they help reduce aqueous humor production, though they are generally not the first-line treatment in acute scenarios.

In cases of acute angle-closure glaucoma, a combination of these treatments is often utilized to achieve the best control of intraocular pressure and prevent potential vision loss. Therefore, recognizing that each of these options plays a role in the management of acute angle-closure glaucoma underscores why the appropriate answer encompasses