Final answer:
Iritis is inflammation of the iris treated with anti-inflammatory medications, while acute closed angle glaucoma involves a quick rise in eye pressure requiring immediate treatment to prevent vision loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
Iritis is an inflammation of the iris, whereas acute closed angle glaucoma is a condition where there is a sudden rise in intraocular pressure due to the blockage of the drainage system in the eye. While both conditions may exhibit redness and discomfort in the eye, they have different underlying causes and treatment approaches.
In iritis, the inflammation can cause pain, light sensitivity, decreased vision, and irregular pupils, and is treated with steroids and pupil dilators primarily to manage inflammation. Acute closed angle glaucoma, on the other hand, often presents with severe eye pain, nausea, blurred vision, and halos around lights; it is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention to lower intraocular pressure, potentially using medications or surgical procedures to restore fluid flow.
Routine intraocular pressure testing is recommended for individuals over 40 to prevent the onset of glaucoma, as well as to monitor conditions like iritis. These eye disorders can be reliably detected through tests such as the noncontact tonometry, which measures the resistance of the eye to indentation by a puff of air.