At around 10 pm, I made the decision to go to the emergency room as the migraine that had started at 10 am was getting worse. At the St. Jude emergency room, the staff swiftly ushered me into a room, asked me questions, and began various tests. My blood pressure was very high, and I was blind in one eye with rainbows around all the lights in the other. I was given an IV of saline and Benadryl, which began lessening the pain right away. All the nurses and doctors were very efficient and professional.

My eye pressure was measured at 60 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). According to the Cleveland Clinic and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, like a thermometer measures temperature using mercury. Normal eye pressure is usually considered to be between 10 and 20 mmHg. Having eye pressure that’s too low or too high can damage your vision.

After a battery of tests, a series of eye drops, and seven hours at the hospital, I was finally discharged. I promptly scheduled an appointment with an ophthalmologist at Tapadia Eyecare, a decision that would prove to be crucial in saving my eyesight.

It was during this visit that I was diagnosed with acute angle-closure glaucoma. This was due to high eye pressure, which happens because fluid called aqueous humor can’t flow freely in your eye. In angle-closure glaucoma, a bulging or swollen iris blocks the drainage system. The condition may develop quickly or over time.

Other names for angle-closure glaucoma are closed-angle glaucoma and narrow-angle glaucoma. Angle-closure glaucoma will happen to about 1 in 1,000 people. It’s most likely to occur after the age of 40. One estimate by the American Academy of Ophthalmology is that 17.14 million people over 40 throughout the world have primary angle-closure glaucoma, with a majority (12.3 million people) in Asia.

Unfortunately, you can’t prevent angle-closure glaucoma. However, screening eye exams with an eye care provider will help you know if you have risks. If you have eye pain, headaches, redness, and feel sick to your stomach, contact your provider or go to an emergency room. You may need immediate medical treatment to save your vision. Other types of angle-closure glaucoma also need treatment. It’s best to find out what you have and how to treat it early in any condition.

Thank you to all the fantastic doctors and nurses who helped me.