2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
10 Glaucoma
Chapter 1: Introduction to Glaucoma: Terminology, Epidemiology, and Genetics
Highlights
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The term glaucoma refers to a group of optic neuropathies characterized by optic disc excavation, or cupping, and corresponding patterns of vision loss.
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Glaucomas are classified by age of onset (childhood vs adult onset), etiology (primary vs secondary), and gonioscopic assessment of the iridocorneal angle (open vs closed).
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Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor for glaucoma; however, a large proportion of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma have IOP in the statistically normal range.
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Glaucoma is a major public health problem and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
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Many genes and genomic regions have been found to be associated with various types of glaucoma.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.