Published on 09/05/2015 by admin
Filed under Opthalmology
Last modified 09/05/2015
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6.1
Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by loss of retinal ganglion cells with resulting progressive visual field loss. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Retinal ganglion cell bodies are located in the ganglion cell layer of the inner retina. Their axons constitute the RNFL. The axons extend in an arcuate pattern to converge at the optic nerve head (ONH). Glaucoma is a heterogeneous condition, with variable pathophysiological mechanisms culminating in retinal ganglion cell loss and optic atrophy. The most prevalent type is primary open angle glaucoma. Mechanical factors at the level of the optic nerve head, genetic susceptibility and oxidative stress are hypothesized to be involved.
The hallmark of glaucomatous optic neuropathy is a progressive loss of RNFL tissue eventually culminating in visual field loss, with associated changes in the ONH (Fig. 6.1.1
Handbook of Retinal OCT Optical Coherence Tomography
