Pathophysiology of the progressive optic neuropathy of glaucoma.

Glaucoma is the most common chronic optic neuropathy. Although traditionally considered a disease of elevated intraocular pressure, it is now clear that glaucoma is primarily a distinctive optic neuropathy. This article discusses the distinctive features of glaucoma: disk morphology, visual field patterns, and disease progression. The primary goal is to distinguish glaucoma from other optic neuropathies and, in so doing, to suggest some hypotheses for its etiology.