Awan's syndrome (primary orbital hypertelorism, narrow-angle glaucoma and lean physique) in two women.

Awan's syndrome, characterized by a lean physique, orbital hypertelorism and angle-closure glaucoma, is a distinct clinical entity which should be more widely recognized. The patients, usually women in their sixth decade, may suffer several self-limiting and misdiagnosed episodes of angle-closure before a definite diagnosis is made. The general physical appearance and hypertelorism in two women, one aged 56 and the other 59 years, with Awan's syndrome aroused the suspicion of angle-closure glaucoma. The timely confirmation of diagnosis and proper management prevented further visual loss in both patients. Some patients with Awan's syndrome may show advanced damage to the optic nerve without ever having had an acute attack of glaucoma or any other symptoms, which makes it important that all patients with orbital hypertelorism and suspected glaucomatous optic discs should undergo gonioscopic evaluation to rule out glaucoma.