Skip to main content

The Glaucoma Book: What Do We Know Now, What Do We Need to Know About Glaucoma?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

What do we know about glaucoma as we approach the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century? What more do we need to know about glaucoma to advance the diagnosis and treatment of our patients? The Glaucoma Book describes the state of the art as practiced by glaucoma subspecialists. In this chapter, I reflect upon the knowledge provided by our contributors and also speculate about what new discoveries loom on the horizon. As glaucoma management is an imperfect science, I would like to indulge my editor’s privilege to offer some educated guesses and opinions about the art of taking care of our patients along with occasional whimsical references.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    To grok is to comprehend something so well that it is totally absorbed into one’s own being. In Robert A. Heinlein’s classic science fiction book Stranger in a Strange Land, the word is Martian and literally means “to drink,” and may be interpreted to mean “to understand fully,” or to “be at one with.”

References

  1. Heinlein RA. Stranger in a Strange Land. New York: Putnam; 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sommer A. Glaucoma risk factors observed in the Baltimore Eye Survey. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 1996;7(2):93–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Cioffi GA, Latina MA, Schwartz GF. Argon versus selective laser trabeculoplasty. J Glaucoma. 2004;13(2):174–177.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Latina MA, Tumbocon JA. Selective laser trabeculoplasty: a new treatment option for open angle glaucoma. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2002;13(2):94–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wise JB. Ten year results of laser trabeculoplasty. Does the laser avoid glaucoma surgery or merely defer it? Eye. 1987;1(Pt 1):45–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wise JB. Technical considerations in laser trabeculoplasty. Trans New Orleans Acad Ophthalmol. 1985;33:210–214.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Eddy DM, Billings J. The quality of medical evidence: implications for quality of care. Health Aff (Millwood). 1988;7(1):19–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Billings J, Eddy D. Physician decision making limited by medical evidence. Bus Health. 1987;5(1):23. 26–28.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Weinreb RN, Khaw PT. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Lancet. 2004;363(9422):1711–1720.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Caprioli J, Coleman AL. Intraocular pressure fluctuation a risk factor for visual field progression at low intraocular pressures in the advanced glaucoma intervention study. Ophthalmology. 2008;115(7):1123-1129. e1123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Asrani S, Zeimer R, Wilensky J, Gieser D, Vitale S, Lindenmuth K. Large diurnal fluctuations in intraocular pressure are an independent risk factor in patients with glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2000;9(2):134–142.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bengtsson B, Leske MC, Hyman L, Heijl A. Fluctuation of intraocular pressure and glaucoma progression in the early manifest glaucoma trial. Ophthalmology. 2007;114(2):205–209.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Medeiros FA, Weinreb RN, Zangwill LM, et al. Long-term intraocular pressure fluctuations and risk of conversion from ocular hypertension to glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 2008;115(6):934–940.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Shuba LM, Doan AP, Maley MK, et al. Diurnal fluctuation and concordance of intraocular pressure in glaucoma suspects and normal tension glaucoma patients. J Glaucoma. 2007;16(3):307–312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Nakakura S, Nomura Y, Ataka S, Shiraki K. Relation between office intraocular pressure and 24-hour intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma treated with a combination of topical antiglaucoma eye drops. J Glaucoma. 2007;16(2):201–204.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mosaed S, Liu JH, Weinreb RN. Correlation between office and peak nocturnal intraocular pressures in healthy subjects and glaucoma patients. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;139(2):320–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Hughes E, Spry P, Diamond J. 24-hour monitoring of intraocular pressure in glaucoma management: a retrospective review. J Glaucoma. 2003;12(3):232–236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Dubiner HB, Sircy MD, Landry T, et al. Comparison of the diurnal ocular hypotensive efficacy of travoprost and latanoprost over a 44-hour period in patients with elevated intraocular pressure. Clin Ther. 2004;26(1):84–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Gross RL, Peace JH, Smith SE, et al. Duration of IOP reduction with travoprost BAK-free solution. J Glaucoma. 2008;17(3):217–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Walters TR, DuBiner HB, Carpenter SP, Khan B, VanDenburgh AM. 24-hour IOP control with once-daily bimatoprost, timolol gel-forming solution, or latanoprost: a 1-month, randomized, comparative clinical trial. Surv Ophthalmol. 2004;49(Suppl 1):S26-S35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Liu JH, Gokhale PA, Loving RT, Kripke DF, Weinreb RN. Laboratory assessment of diurnal and nocturnal ocular perfusion pressures in humans. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2003;19(4):291–297.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Liu JH, Kripke DF, Hoffman RE, et al. Nocturnal elevation of intraocular pressure in young adults. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998;39(13):2707–2712.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu JH, Kripke DF, Weinreb RN. Comparison of the nocturnal effects of once-daily timolol and latanoprost on intraocular pressure. Am J Ophthalmol. 2004;138(3):389–395.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kass MA, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, et al. The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study: a randomized trial determines that topical ocular hypotensive medication delays or prevents the onset of primary open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002;120(6):701-713. discussion 829–830.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Goldmann H. Un neuveau tonometre. Bull Soc Ophtalmol Fr. 1955;5:281–292.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pekmezci M, Vo B, Lim AK, et al. The characteristics of glaucoma in Japanese Americans. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(2):167–171.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Schmidt C. Regulators weigh risks of consumer genetic tests. Nat Biotechnol. 2008;26(2):145–146.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Collins FS, McKusick VA. Implications of the Human Genome Project for medical science. JAMA. 2001;285(5):540–544.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Gerard S, Hayes M, Rothstein MA. On the edge of tomorrow: fitting genomics into public health policy. J Law Med Ethics. 2002;30(3 Suppl):173–176.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Rothenberg KH, Terry SF. Human genetics. Before it’s too late - addressing fear of genetic information. Science. 2002;297(5579):196–197.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Henderer JD. Disc damage likelihood scale. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006;90(4):395–396.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Spaeth GL, Henderer J, Liu C, et al. The disc damage likelihood scale: reproducibility of a new method of estimating the amount of optic nerve damage caused by glaucoma. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2002;100:181-185. discussion 185–186.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Smith CM. Origin and uses of primum non nocere - above all, do no harm! J Clin Pharmacol. 2005;45(4):371–377.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Rein DB, Wittenborn JS, Lee PP, et al. The cost-effectiveness of routine office-based identification and subsequent medical treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma in the United States. Ophthalmology. 2009;116(5):823–832.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Quigley HA, Addicks EM, Green WR. Optic nerve damage in human glaucoma. III. Quantitative correlation of nerve fiber loss and visual field defect in glaucoma, ischemic neuropathy, papilledema, and toxic neuropathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 1982;100(1):135–146.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Quigley HA, Addicks EM, Green WR, Maumenee AE. Optic nerve damage in human glaucoma. II. The site of injury and susceptibility to damage. Arch Ophthalmol. 1981;99(4):635–649.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Quigley HA, Green WR. The histology of human glaucoma cupping and optic nerve damage: clinicopathologic correlation in 21 eyes. Ophthalmology. 1979;86(10):1803–1830.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Weinreb RN, Friedman DS, Fechtner RD, et al. Risk assessment in the management of patients with ocular hypertension. Am J Ophthalmol. 2004;138(3):458–467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Boland MV, Quigley HA, Lehmann HP. The impact of risk calculation on treatment recommendations made by glaucoma specialists in cases of ocular hypertension. J Glaucoma. 2008;17(8):631–638.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Mansberger SL, Medeiros FA, Gordon M. Diagnostic tools for calculation of glaucoma risk. Surv Ophthalmol. 2008;53(Suppl 1):S11-S16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Gordon MO, Torri V, Miglior S, et al. Validated prediction model for the development of primary open-angle glaucoma in individuals with ocular hypertension. Ophthalmology. 2007;114(1):10–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Mansberger SL, Cioffi GA. The probability of glaucoma from ocular hypertension determined by ophthalmologists in comparison to a risk calculator. J Glaucoma. 2006;15(5):426–431.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Mansberger SL. A risk calculator to determine the probability of glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2004;13(4):345–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Higginbotham EJ, Richardson TM. Response of exfoliation glaucoma to laser trabeculoplasty. Br J Ophthalmol. 1986;70(11):837–839.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Sherwood MB, Svedbergh B. Argon laser trabeculoplasty in exfoliation syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol. 1985;69(12):886–890.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Ritch R, Podos S. Laser trabeculoplasty in the exfoliation syndrome. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1983;59(4):339–344.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Logan P, Burke E, Joyce PD, Eustace P. Laser trabeculoplasty in the pseudo-exfoliation syndrome. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1983;103(Pt 6):586–587.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Ritch R, Liebmann J, Robin A, et al. Argon laser trabeculoplasty in pigmentary glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1993;100(6):909–913.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Lehto I. Long-term follow up of argon laser trabeculoplasty in pigmentary glaucoma. Ophthalmic Surg. 1992;23(9):614–617.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Lunde MW. Argon laser trabeculoplasty in pigmentary dispersion syndrome with glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 1983;96(6):721–725.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Robin AL, Pollack IP. Argon laser trabeculoplasty in secondary forms of open-angle glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 1983;101(3):382–384.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Sherwood MB, Migdal CS, Hitchings RA, Sharir M, Zimmerman TJ, Schultz JS. Initial treatment of glaucoma: surgery or medications. Surv Ophthalmol. 1993;37(4):293–305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Cairns JE. Trabeculectomy. Preliminary report of a new method. Am J Ophthalmol. 1968;66(4):673–679.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Wilkins M, Indar A, Wormald R. Intra-operative mitomycin C for glaucoma surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(4):CD002897.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Rothman RF, Liebmann JM, Ritch R. Low-dose 5-fluorouracil trabeculectomy as initial surgery in uncomplicated glaucoma: long-term followup. Ophthalmology. 2000;107(6):1184–1190.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Hefetz L, Keren T, Naveh N. Early and late postoperative application of 5-fluorouracil following trabeculectomy in refractory glaucoma. Ophthalmic Surg. 1994;25(10):715–719.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Stilma JS. Trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil in complicated glaucoma. Klin Oczna. 1993;95(2):81–83.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Smith MF, Sherwood MB, Doyle JW, Khaw PT. Results of intraoperative 5-fluorouracil supplementation on trabeculectomy for open-angle glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 1992;114(6):737–741.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Wilson RP, Steinmann WC. Use of trabeculectomy with postoperative 5-fluorouracil in patients requiring extremely low intraocular pressure levels to limit further glaucoma progression. Ophthalmology. 1991;98(7):1047–1052.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Liebmann JM, Ritch R, Marmor M, Nunez J, Wolner B. Initial 5-fluorouracil trabeculectomy in uncomplicated glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 1991;98(7):1036–1041.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Taniguchi T, Kitazawa Y, Shimizu U. Long-term results of 5-fluorouracil trabeculectomy for primary open-angle glaucoma. Int Ophthalmol. 1989;13(1-2):145–149.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Kitazawa Y, Taniguchi T, Nakano Y, Shirato S, Yamamoto T. 5-Fluorouracil for trabeculectomy in glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1987;225(6):403–405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Rauscher FM, Gedde SJ, Schiffman JC, Feuer WJ, Barton K, Lee RK. Motility disturbances in the tube versus trabeculectomy study during the first year of follow-up. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;147(3):458–466.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Gedde SJ, Schiffman JC, Feuer WJ, Herndon LW, Brandt JD, Budenz DL. Treatment outcomes in the tube versus trabeculectomy study after one year of follow-up. Am J Ophthalmol. 2007;143(1):9–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Gedde SJ, Herndon LW, Brandt JD, Budenz DL, Feuer WJ, Schiffman JC. Surgical complications in the Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study during the first year of follow-up. Am J Ophthalmol. 2007;143(1):23–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Gedde SJ, Schiffman JC, Feuer WJ, Parrish RK 2nd, Heuer DK, Brandt JD. The tube versus trabeculectomy study: design and baseline characteristics of study patients. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;140(2):275–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Lewis RA, von Wolff K, Tetz M, et al. Canaloplasty: circumferential viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm canal using a flexible microcatheter for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma in adults: two-year interim clinical study results. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2009;35(5):814–824.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Grieshaber MC, Pienaar A, Olivier J, Stegmann R. Channelography: imaging of the aqueous outflow pathway with flexible microcatheter and fluorescein in canaloplasty. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd. 2009;226(4):245–248.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Shingleton B, Tetz M, Korber N. Circumferential viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm canal (canaloplasty) with temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification cataract surgery for open-angle glaucoma and visually significant cataract: one-year results. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2008;34(3):433–440.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Kobayashi H, Kobayashi K, Okinami S. A comparison of the intraocular pressure-lowering effect and safety of viscocanalostomy and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in bilateral open-angle glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2003;241(5):359–366.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Shaarawy T, Nguyen C, Schnyder C, Mermoud A. Five year results of viscocanalostomy. Br J Ophthalmol. 2003;87(4):441–445.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. O'Brart DP, Rowlands E, Islam N, Noury AM. A randomised, prospective study comparing trabeculectomy augmented with antimetabolites with a viscocanalostomy technique for the management of open angle glaucoma uncontrolled by medical therapy. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002;86(7):748–754.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Ahmed II, Crandall AS. Viscocanalostomy vs trabeculetomy. Ophthalmology. 2002;109(3):411–412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Jonescu-Cuypers C, Jacobi P, Konen W, Krieglstein G. Primary viscocanalostomy versus trabeculectomy in white patients with open-angle glaucoma: a randomized clinical trial. Ophthalmology. 2001;108(2):254–258.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Crandall AS. Nonpenetrating filtering procedures: viscocanalostomy and collagen wick. Semin Ophthalmol. 1999;14(3):189–195.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Bylsma S. Nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy: collagen implant and viscocanalostomy procedures. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1999;39(3):103–119.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Stegmann R, Pienaar A, Miller D. Viscocanalostomy for open-angle glaucoma in black African patients. J Cataract Refract Surg. 1999;25(3):316–322.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Carassa RG, Bettin P, Brancato R. Viscocanalostomy: a pilot study. Acta Ophthalmol Scand Suppl. 1998;227:51–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Godfrey DG, Fellman RL, Neelakantan A. Canal surgery in adult glaucomas. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2009;20(2):116–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Strutton DR, Walt JG. Trends in glaucoma surgery before and after the introduction of new topical glaucoma pharmacotherapies. J Glaucoma. 2004;13(3):221–226.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Wang N, Chintala SK, Fini ME, Schuman JS. Activation of a tissue-specific stress response in the aqueous outflow pathway of the eye defines the glaucoma disease phenotype. Nat Med. 2001;7(3):304–309.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Diaz-Aleman VT, Anton A, de la Rosa MG, Johnson ZK, McLeod S, Azuara-Blanco A. Detection of visual-field deterioration by Glaucoma Progression Analysis and Threshold Noiseless Trend programs. Br J Ophthalmol. 2009;93(3):322–328.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Robin AL, Clark AF, Covert DW, et al. Anterior juxtascleral delivery of anecortave acetate in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma: a pilot investigation. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;147(1):45–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Minckler D, Baerveldt G, Ramirez MA, et al. Clinical results with the Trabectome, a novel surgical device for treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 2006;104:40–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Minckler DS, Baerveldt G, Alfaro MR, Francis BA. Clinical results with the Trabectome for treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(6):962–967.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schacknow, P.N. (2010). The Glaucoma Book: What Do We Know Now, What Do We Need to Know About Glaucoma?. In: Schacknow, P., Samples, J. (eds) The Glaucoma Book. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76700-0_92

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76700-0_92

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-76699-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-76700-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics