FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 360:1113-1124 March 12, 2009 Number 11 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

	Full Text PDF PDA Full Text PowerPoint Slide Set CME Exam Video Purchase this article Letters Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited E-mail When Letters Appear PubMed Citation

Glaucoma is a chronic, degenerative optic neuropathy that can be distinguished from most other forms of acquired optic neuropathy by the characteristic appearance of the optic nerve. In glaucoma, the neuroretinal rim of the optic nerve becomes progressively thinner, thereby enlarging the optic-nerve cup. This phenomenon is referred to as optic-nerve cupping. Its cause is the loss of retinal ganglion cell axons, along with supporting glia and vasculature. The remaining neuroretinal rim retains its normal pink color. In other optic neuropathies, the optic-nerve tissue loses its pink color and cupping does not develop. A rare exception is arteritic anterior ischemic . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Clinical Features

Epidemiology and Risk Factors

Clinical Presentation

Myocilin

Genetic Features

Effect on the Trabecular Meshwork

Decreased Secretion

Damage to the Optic-Nerve Head

Cellular Stress

Structural Changes

Damage to Retinal Ganglion-Cell Axons

Loss of Retinal Ganglion Cells

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Kwon at University of Iowa Health Care, 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA 52242.

Related Letters:

Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Grzybowski A., Harris A., Kountouras J., Zavos C., Deretzi G., Kwon Y. H., Fingert J. H., Kuehn M. H.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2009; 360:2679-2680, Jun 18, 2009. Correspondence

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Fourgeux, C., Martine, L., Bjorkhem, I., Diczfalusy, U., Joffre, C., Acar, N., Creuzot-Garcher, C., Bron, A., Bretillon, L. (2009). Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Association with Cholesterol 24S-Hydroxylase (CYP46A1) Gene Polymorphism and Plasma 24-Hydroxycholesterol Levels. IOVS 50: 5712-5717 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lambiase, A., Aloe, L., Centofanti, M., Parisi, V., Mantelli, F., Colafrancesco, V., Manni, G. L., Bucci, M. G., Bonini, S., Levi-Montalcini, R. (2009). Experimental and clinical evidence of neuroprotection by nerve growth factor eye drops: Implications for glaucoma. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106: 13469-13474 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Grzybowski, A., Harris, A., Kountouras, J., Zavos, C., Deretzi, G., Kwon, Y. H., Fingert, J. H., Kuehn, M. H. (2009). Primary open-angle glaucoma.. NEJM 360: 2679-2679 [Full Text]