Medical Management of Glaucoma

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. It is estimated that by the year 2000, 66.8 million people will be affected, of whom 6.7 million will be blind in both eyes.1 Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy in which the axons of the optic nerve die and the plates of lamina cribrosa collapse, leading to loss of optic-nerve tissue and excavation, or “cupping,” of the ophthalmoscopically visible optic-nerve head. When sufficient axonal loss occurs, peripheral vision declines; loss of central vision occurs much later. Most forms of glaucoma are painless, and the loss of vision is insidious. . . .