The Role of Ocular Blood Flow Abnormalities in the Pathogenesis of Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies characterised by damage to the optic nerve head and visual fi eld. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide with a projected estimate of 60.5 and 79.6 million persons to be affected worldwide by 2010 and 2020, respectively [152]. More signifi cantly, 8.4 and 11.2 million persons will be bilaterally blind from the glaucomas by 2010 and 2020, respectively [152]. There is little doubt that glaucoma represents a major worldwide healthcare problem with signifi cant challenges in the identifi cation of new cases as well as in the management of existing patients with the disease.