Primary Angle Closure Disease

• Published in: KOBE CITY HOSPITAL BULLETIN Vol. 62; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Author: Kurimoto, Yasuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Kobe City Hospital Organization 2024; 地方独立行政法人 神戸市民病院機構
• Subjects: blindness; glaucoma; PACD; PACG; primary angle closure disease (PACD); primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG); 原発閉塞隅角病; 原発閉塞隅角緑内障; 失明; 緑内障
• ISSN: 0286-455X; 2434-7590
• DOI: 10.32301/kobecityhospital.62.0_1

Glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in Japan, is classified into open-angle and angle closure glaucoma. There is no curative treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma and, therefore, disease management is the basis of treatment. In contrast, if primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is not treated appropriately, the prognosis of visual function is poor, and the risk of blindness is three to five times higher than that of open-angle glaucoma. PACG is a particularly important subtype of glaucoma that must be diagnosed correctly and treated appropriately. Therefore, medical practitioners have a heavy responsibility in this disease. Primary angle closure disease (PACD) is a new term that encompasses the precursor lesions of PACG. Recently, findings from large-scale epidemiological studies of glaucoma in Japan and overseas as well as advances in anterior segment imaging have led to a better understanding of PACD pathogenesis and a significant change in the disease concept. Moreover, the classification and treatment strategies have been updated with the introduction of new terminology. This article outlines the current state of PACD treatment.