Sharp Decline In Vision And Kaleidoscope Vision In Right Eye

My father recently experienced a sharp decline in the vision of his right eye. He was told years ago that he may need to be tested for glaucoma. His distance vision has been severely compromised in that eye. He has noticed a strange pheomenon in that eye, however. He noticed that the blurryness is a result of a sort of kaleidoscopic type of vision. For example when he looks at the moon he sees 6 blurry moons in a kaleidoscopic like pattern. He has also noticed that he can see close up with that eye better that with his good eye? What is going on? Is there hope for the eye?