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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.

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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

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