title: Pathophysiology of the progressive optic neuropathy of glaucoma.
abstract: Glaucoma is the most common chronic optic neuropathy. Although traditionally considered a disease of elevated intraocular pressure, it is now clear that glaucoma is primarily a distinctive optic neuropathy. This article discusses the distinctive features of glaucoma: disk morphology, visual field patterns, and disease progression. The primary goal is to distinguish glaucoma from other optic neuropathies and, in so doing, to suggest some hypotheses for its etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*