Abstract
The term “glaucoma” includes a number of optic neuropathies that share certain commonalities. Together they make up the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, estimated to affect 80 million people by 2020 [1]. Primarily, these neuropathies are characterized by a progressive vision loss due to dysfunction and degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in the eye [1]. Most glaucomas have a genetic component where family history and ethnicity increase its likelihood, e.g., African-Americans are up to eight times as likely to develop glaucoma—and at an earlier age—than their Caucasian counterparts. Most glaucomas are age related, with sharp increases in the incidence of glaucoma occurring after age 60. Thus, age poses the primary overall risk factor for glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), however, is the primary modifiable risk factor [2].
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Crish, S.D., Dengler-Crish, C.M. (2014). Glaucoma. In: Lammert, E., Zeeb, M. (eds) Metabolism of Human Diseases. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0715-7_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0715-7_13
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