[Echographic follow-up of the chamber angle in suspected simple glaucoma]

We have recently seen a number of patients with angle-closure glaucoma who had been treated for glaucoma simplex (primary open-angle glaucoma). The main cause of this misdiagnosis was gonioscopy, as its findings are subject to the impression of the examiners. For objective examination of the chamber angle and the iris configuration, B-scan ultrasonography was performed using a contact eye cup filled with saline. Two groups of patients were noted in particular. The first group contained relatively young patients, more men than women, with plateau iris and a central normal, deep anterior chamber. The second group consisted of patients with presumed glaucoma simplex. The findings were quite different between eyes. In the eye with a higher IOP, pronounced optic nerve damage and visual field defect, the chamber angle was distinctly more narrow and closed. Most of the patients were treated with beta-blocker drops, which they felt were agreeable.