Does structural damage precede functional loss in glaucoma?

Abstract

This article aims to describe the currently available methods used to detect structural and functional loss in glaucoma, their relationships, and how they can be used to detect early disease and progression. The answer to whether structural or functional loss occurs first in glaucoma depends on the method employed, definitions and population analyzed. As a general recommendation, patients with, or suspected of having, glaucoma should be followed with a combination of functional and structural tests in order to optimize the detection of early glaucomatous damage.

Keywords::

• glaucoma
• imaging technology
• optic disc
• perimetry
• progression

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Jeffrey M Liebmann and Remo Susanna Jr are consultants for Heidelberg GmgH and Carl Zeiss Meditec. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.