advertisement
BACKGROUND: The authors introduce a pathogenetic concept which explains the present known clinical and experimental facts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The known clinical risk factors for glaucomatous optic neuropathy, as well as the outcomes of experimental studies, were collected systematically. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations are more damaging than a stable increased IOP, reduced circulation due to vascular dysregulation is more damaging than reduced circulation due to arteriosclerosis, and glaucomatous damage is clearly different from a pure ischemic lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Although IOP can damage mechanically, IOP fluctuation and drops in blood pressure may lead to short-term ischemia, followed by reperfusion damage. Vascular dysregulation interferes with the autoregulation of ocular perfusion and renders the eye more sensitive to IOP increase or blood pressure decrease.LA: German
Dr J. Falmmer, Universitäts-Augenklinik Basel, Mittlere Strasse 91, Postfach, CH-4012 Basel, Switzerland. josef.flammer@unibas.ch
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)