Ophthalmology and Eye

Glaucoma: Visual field loss

Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy that affects more than 50 million people and is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The role of intra ocular pressure (IOP) has been well documented as a major modifiable risk factor for glaucoma. Additionally, many glaucoma patients have a relatively low IOP, while some healthy individuals have a relatively high IOP. The disorders can be roughly divided into two main categories, open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma. Impaired ocular blood flow regulation in open angle glaucoma as a risk of glaucoma has also been well established, especially over the past two decades. Pathophysiology of glaucoma indicates towards the increased in intraocular pressure which compresses and damages the optic nerve. Once the optic nerve is damaged, it fails to carry visual information to the brain and this result in loss of vision. The exact pathophysiology of glaucoma contributing to this is yet to be determined. Biomarkers for glaucoma have predictive use that could help and guide more specific therapy in some glaucoma patients. Endothelin in glaucoma treatment play a very key role in pathogenesis of glaucoma. Glaucoma accounts for over 10 million visits to physicians each year. In terms of Social Security benefits, lost income tax revenues, and health care expenditures, the cost to the U.S. government is estimated to be over $1.5 billion annually. The Glaucoma Research Society of Canada is the only Canadian non-profit organization solely dedicated to funding glaucoma research. Since 1989, it has raised more than two million dollars in support of 150 research projects. The Society funds 10 to 15% of all independent glaucoma research in Canada. Bascom Palmer and Wills Eye are the top researcher organization for glaucoma.