Abstract

OBRET MENDIVE, Isabel et al. Systemic diseases and glaucoma. Rev Cubana Oftalmol [online]. 2020, vol.33, n.4  Epub Feb 08, 2021. ISSN 1561-3070.

Glaucoma, also known as the "silent thief of sight", is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Despite the scientific and technological advances achieved in the field, a definitive cure has not been found for this disease. The most evident achievement so far has been the adequate control of intraocular pressure values to prevent the progress of optic nerve damage and its effects on the visual field, as well as irreversible blindness. On many occasions it has been possible to maintain intraocular pressure at optimal values, and even then the disease continues to advance, making us wonder what went wrong and why this happens. It should not be forgotten that the optic nerve is not the only organ affected by this condition. There is evidence that damage extends from retinal ganglion cells to the lateral geniculate body and the visual cortex in cerebral hemispheres. Spasm, ischemia or low flow phenomena trigger biochemical reactions, oxidative stress and other processes contributing to the development of this neuropathy. With the purpose of evaluating glaucoma patients in greater depth, a review was conducted about the influence of a number of very common systemic diseases on glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Keywords : Intraocular pressure; optic nerve; glaucoma; neuropathy.

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