An update on glaucoma treatment

Glaucoma comprises a group of eye diseases with various causes that result in optic neuropathy. The optic nerve becomes damaged, resulting in histopathological changes and loss of visual function. Glaucoma is the world’s second biggest cause of blindness.The condition affects around 60 million people, of whom about 10 per cent become blind. In the UK, it accounts for 15 per cent of registered blind people, although this figure probably underestimates morbidity because many people who are eligible for registration do not appear in the statistics. Classification of glaucomas is usually based on cause and mechanics (see Panel 1).