[Criticism of the gonioscopic classifications of the glaucoma: with particular reference to the classification issued by the European Glaucoma Society in 2008].

PURPOSE: To critically analyze the gonioscopic classifications of glaucoma, especially of the classification issued by the European Glaucoma Society in 2008, in order to reveal its advantages and shortcomings.

METHODS

The paper tries to determine the extent to which this classification is clear (being based on a coherent and consistently followed set of criteria), is comprehensive (framing all forms of glaucoma), helps to understand the sickness (using a logical framing system), and facilitates therapeutic decision making (offering direct therapeutic suggestions).

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSION

The paper shows that, compared with all the previous classifications, the 2008 European Glaucoma Society classification is one step ahead (in the way of classifying the group of secondary angle-closure glaucomas), two steps behind (in rejecting two useful categories of congenital glaucoma), and similar in several respects: that it is based on criticizable fundamental and secondary criteria that cannot cover all forms of sickness gathered at a particular crossing; that it uses several equally weighted criteria for one single crossing (division); that it frames one clinical entity in several clinical categories; that it does not reflect reality in some aspects; and that it does not offer direct therapeutic suggestions: after framing a case in a scheme built on the basis of gonioscopic observation, it requires a second stage of pathogenic analysis, so that the ophthalmologist is able to decide the correct treatment only in the third stage. This tortuous thinking pathway, with successive stages - that are not followed by all doctors, explains many of the erroneous therapeutic decisions. All these considerations justify the efforts to find a new classification, able to correct the abovementioned shortcomings.