Changes in the Visual Cortex in Patients with Normotensive Glaucoma

It is generally acknowledged that there are differences between normotensive glaucoma and hypertensive glaucoma, not only in terms of intraocular pressure but also in terms of the nature of changes to the field of vision; changes, for example, which extend more towards the center and result in more significant decreases insensitivity [1-3]. Some of the typical differences are: the nerve fibers interferes more with the center of the retina and has a focal character [4]; there is larger and deeper excavation while the lamina cribrosa is thinner [5,6]; vasospasms [7]; nights systemic hypotension, reduced ocular pulse amplitude and fluctuation of eye perfuse pressure [8-11]; narrowed retinal veins; worsening hem or hologic qualities of blood [12,13] etc. The idea that the diseases may not be the same is a problem we have been dealing with for years. So far, we have managed to prove differences at the level of visual pathway damage [14]. This conclusion is also supported by changes in the visual cortex demonstrated in hypertensive glaucomas by fMRI [15]. In this study, where we were looking into the dependence of changes in the fields of vision on the fMRI of the visual cortex in hypertensive glaucomas, we proved a medium degree of dependence. Now we have attempted to find out whether this dependence is also valid in normotensive glaucoma.