Eye Pain, Halos and Nausea? Why a Squamish Optometrist Says an Angle-Closure Attack Can't Wait
Squamish, Canada - October 15, 2026 / Garibaldi Eye Care /
SQUAMISH, BC, October 15, 2026 — Garibaldi Eye Care, the Squamish eye doctor practice patients across the Sea to Sky Corridor rely on for comprehensive vision care, is responding to clinical guidance on acute angle-closure glaucoma by reminding patients that an acute attack is an emergency, and that narrow angles should be assessed and monitored rather than ignored. The downtown Squamish practice is led by Dr. Brandon Baker and Dr. Ashala Mah.
Clinical Guidance Classifies the Condition as an Ocular Emergency
According to a clinical resource published by Emergency Care BC (the BC Emergency Medicine Network), acute angle-closure glaucoma is classified as an ocular emergency, and delayed treatment — even by several hours — can lead to permanent vision loss, including optic nerve damage and blindness. The resource notes that women, older adults and people of Asian descent may be at higher risk for narrow angle glaucoma, though anyone can develop it, and having one of these risk factors doesn't mean a person has the condition.
“Narrow angle glaucoma doesn't always come with obvious warning signs until an attack happens, and when it does, timing matters,” said Dr. Brandon Baker, optometrist at Garibaldi Eye Care. “The guidance is a good reminder that this isn't something where it's safe to wait and see.”
Assessment, Monitoring and Referral in Squamish
Garibaldi Eye Care's approach to narrow angles starts with assessment, not surgery. The practice's optometrists assess patients with narrow angles using advanced imaging and in-office testing, monitor them over time, and refer to an ophthalmologist for laser iridotomy — the first-line treatment — when it's needed. Garibaldi Eye Care arranges the referral and looks after a patient's monitoring before and after the procedure.
Sudden eye pain, redness, blurred vision with halos around lights, headache or nausea can be an acute angle-closure attack. Go to the nearest emergency department right away, such as Squamish General Hospital. Don't wait for an appointment.
“For people in Squamish and along the Sea to Sky Corridor, knowing the warning signs matters, because the nearest ophthalmology care isn't always around the corner,” said Dr. Ashala Mah, optometrist at Garibaldi Eye Care. “Anyone who has been told they have narrow angles, or who is in a higher-risk group, benefits from a regular eye exam so the angles can be watched over time. Anyone with the warning signs of an attack should go straight to emergency.”
Garibaldi Eye Care is currently accepting new and existing patients for eye health assessments at its downtown Squamish location near Save-On-Foods. Residents of Squamish and the surrounding Sea to Sky Corridor can schedule an appointment by phone or through the practice's website.
Contact Information:
Garibaldi Eye Care
38222 Eaglewind Blvd
Squamish, BC V8B 0C5
Canada
Brandon Baker
+1 778-906-0936
https://garibaldieyecare.com/
