Studies in the Susceptibility of the Eye to Raised Intraocular Pressure

Abstract

One of the fundamental and practical problems in the concept of chronic simple glaucoma is the relationship of the intraocular pressure to the changes and progression produced in the visual field. The present study is concerned with this problem. Chandler's¹ retrospective study of patients having glaucoma for a long time suggests that eyes with advanced cupping and field changes withstand increased and even "normal" intraocular pressure poorly, whereas those in which cupping is limited to 1 pole of the disk appear to withstand intraocular pressure somewhat better (normal disks may show no field loss for long periods of time even when the intraocular pressure is at a level which would produce progression in eyes with cupping). Goldmann's analysis² of Leydhecker's figures suggests that in the eyes of patients with chronic glaucoma, field changes may take place from 15 to 18 years after early glaucoma is detected. It would