New paradigms in the mechanisms and management of glaucoma.

During the last 30 years, the definition of glaucoma as been revised to eliminate the inclusion of intraocular pressure. Open angle glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, but the proportion of those with the disease who become blind is low. Diagnostic methods for glaucoma need improvement. The pathogenetic steps to loss of neurons in glaucoma are increasingly understood and non-pressure lowering therapies are on the horizon.