The pathogenic classification of glaucomas.

On the basis of a pathogenic definition, our classification distinguished for each of the first intersections a main--mostly determinant mechanism and a secondary mechanism, mostly modulating the damages: hydrodynamic alteration and tissue resistance alteration--for the second intersection, outflow block and hypersecretion--for the third. Reflecting the state of present knowledge, from the corresponding forms of the disease, only outflow block glaucoma is completely analysed, the exogenous, trabecular, pretrabecular and mixed glaucomas being described. In order to permit the correct framing of all pretrabecular block glaucomas, the posterior push forms (retrovitreal or parietal) were introduced besides the anterior already described forms (pupillary or angular). As for low tissue resistance glaucomas, genetic, cardiovascular, metabolic, haematologic and ocular influences are mentioned. This classification avoids the theoretical inadvertencies of previous classifications offering the synthetic frame of a coherent system, open to any new developments, all inclusive, terminologically clear and with direct therapeutic references.