الفهرس 
Incidence And Epidemiology Of POAGOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible world blindness. The onset is without symptoms and progression occurs silently until the advanced stages of the disease when it affects central vision. For more than a century, visual field evaluation has been an integral part of the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. Visual field (VF) deficits are thought to be the functional expression of ganglion cell losses. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), first described in 1991 by Huang et al, is a noninvasive, noncontact transpupillary imaging technique. It provides high resolution images that allow invivo measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in cross section. The third generation instrument is able to quantify the thickness of the RNFL at a resolution of approximately eight to ten micrometer. The aim in our study was to compare the ability of OCT versus visual field in monitoring glaucomatous patients. Our study was done on a Diagnosed POAG (comparison between OCT and SAP). Follow up period was six months in all patients. OCT was able to detect more progression compared to visual field. In addition, it was earlier in detecting progression compared to visual field. OCT proved the ability to detect any structural changes before corresponding functional defects can be detected.
With an earlier accurate diagnosis and timely therapy, the goal for this century should be to prevent glaucoma-related blindness. The goal of detecting progression in glaucomatous patients is to preserve visual function by monitoring them for the earliest signs of glaucomatous damage. This will have the advantage of withholding the treatment from those who may never need it.