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Abstract #18492 Published in IGR 3-3
The blood supply of the optic nerve head and the evaluation of it: myth and reality
Hayreh SSProgress in Retinal and Eye Research 2001; 20: 563-593
Evidence has gradually emerged that there is vascular insufficiency in the optic nerve head (ONH) in both anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) and glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON); thus both represent ischemic disorders of the ONH. Together these diseases constitute a major cause of blindness or seriously impaired vision in humans. Consequently there has recently been great interest in the ONH circulation in health and disease and in how to evaluate it. Many studies of the subject have been published, with conflicting interpretations and claims. The basis of the inconsistent information seems to be confusion on some fundamental issues concerning the ONH circulation itself. The objective of this paper is to differentiate myths and misconceptions from reality about the ONH blood supply; to elucidate the reasons for disagreement on the blood supply of the ONH; and to evaluate the reliability and validity of various methods currently used to measure ONH blood flow.
Dr S.S. Hayreh, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242-1091, USA. sohan- hayreh@uiowa.edu
Classification:
2.14 Optic disc (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
