Watch Out For These Early Warning Signs Of Glaucoma

Mid-Dilated Pupil

A mid-dilated pupil in an individual's eye can indicate they are suffering from angle-closure glaucoma. This type of glaucoma occurs when the eye cannot drain aqueous humor due to a specific mechanism. The iris in the eye is the part that contains color. The pupil is the black structure in the center of the iris. The lens of the eye sits right behind the pupil and iris and is held in place by ligaments. The ciliary body is the muscular structure that sits behind the iris that produces aqueous humor, which flows into the cornea and pupil and is then drained through the net-like structure at the junction where the iris and cornea meet. The mid-dilated pupil happens during a sudden occurrence of angle-closure because most contact between the lens and the iris happens when an individual's pupil is in a mid-dilated position. The net-like structure where the aqueous humor should drain from becomes obstructed, and the pressure in the eye increases. This increasing pressure causes a restriction of blood supply to the muscle that controls the dilation of the pupil. The muscle becomes non-functional as a result, and the pupil remains in the mid-dilated position. This mechanism is why a mid-dilated pupil can indicate acute angle closure glaucoma.