Ophthalmology of glaucoma

Author: Li Meiyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: This book includes four parts: the basics of glaucoma, clinical examination methods, specific discussions on glaucoma, and the treatment of glaucoma, systematically and comprehensively introducing relevant knowledge about glaucoma. Due to recent advancements in molecular genetics and molecular biology, glaucoma research has moved from the receptor level to the gene level, achieving certain results. As the understanding of the mechanisms of glaucoma-induced optic nerve damage deepens, the concept of neuroprotection in glaucoma has been accepted by many scholars and has led to numerous research efforts. Protecting the visual function of glaucoma patients, rescuing and repairing damaged retinal ganglion cells, and preventing cytotoxic damage to intact retinal ganglion cells have become hot topics in current glaucoma research. Early diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma has always been a key focus of glaucoma research. Many new examination instruments have been developed in the fields of imaging and special visual function tests, which can objectively evaluate changes in the optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer and provide quantitative data. Instruments such as confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscopy, retinal thickness analyzer, optical coherence tomography, laser scanning polarimetry, and confocal image angiography are all discussed and explained in this book. Anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy holds significant value in understanding anterior chamber depth, quantitative measurement of the angle, and exploring the pathogenesis of angle-closure glaucoma. Visual electrophysiological tests, psychophysical examinations, and computerized visual field tests, such as visual evoked potentials, electroretinography, multi-channel visual evoked potentials, multi-sensitivity visual field tests, yellow-green visual field tests, and high-resolution visual field tests, provide sensitive reference indicators for the early diagnosis of glaucoma and are all covered in this book. The emergence of many new anti-glaucoma drugs has provided more treatment options, such as prostaglandin, which have strong and long-lasting intraocular pressure-lowering effects with minimal side effects. Other types of drugs, such as α2-adrenergic agonists and local carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, are also discussed in detail in this book, including their mechanisms of action, application methods, intraocular pressure-lowering effects, characteristics, and side effects. The book also provides a detailed introduction to surgical treatment for glaucoma.