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GLAUCOMA - BASIC AND CLINICAL CONCEPTS

Edited by Shimon Rumelt

Glaucoma - Basic and Clinical Concepts

Edited by Shimon Rumelt

Published by InTech

Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Copyright © 2011 InTech

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Notice

Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published chapters. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book.

Publishing Process Manager Davor Vidic

Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic

Cover Designer Jan Hyrat

Image Copyright Subbotina Anna, 2011. Used under license from Shutterstock.com

First published October, 2011

Printed in Croatia

A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from orders@intechweb.org

Glaucoma - Basic and Clinical Concepts, Edited by Shimon Rumelt p. cm.

ISBN 978-953-307-591-4

Contents

Chapter 8 Neural Mechanisms Underlying Brimonidine’s Protection of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Experimental Glaucoma 185

Cun-Jian Dong, William A. Hare and Larry Wheeler

VI Contents

Chapter 9 Glaucoma Genetics – Regulation of

Cell Surviving and Death in the Retina 207

Maria D. Pinazo-Durán, Roberto Gallego-Pinazo,

Vicente Zanón-Moreno and Manuel Serrano

Parul Ichhpujani and Marlene R. Moster

Contents VII

Preface

The glaucoma specialty underwent an enormous change in the last two decades and a book that is published now is different from one that was published even two years ago. It just reflects this change. We are evident to better understanding the genetics and pathogenesis of different types of glaucomas that will enable us to develop novel approaches for treatment, new imaging techniques such as anterior segment OCT, GDx, or HRT, application of new devices such as the ExPress shunt, iStent and Solx Gold shunt and new procedures such as canaloplasty and deep sclerostomy to minimize postoperative complications of the traditional trabeculectomy without compromising the success of the procedure.

The book is arranged in a systematic approach discussing first the basic concepts of glaucomas, including the final offenders, the retinal ganglion cells and many other topics. The clinical concepts include evaluation and management of glaucoma and the different types of glaucomas, their features, evaluation, differential diagnosis and specific approaches for treatment. The book covers most but not all of the field. It is a product of a balance between expedited publishing process and encompassing the entire field.

The book is intended for the general ophthalmologists, glaucoma specialists, and researchers in the field, residents and fellows. It covers both basic and clinical concepts of glaucoma and all authors incorporated their perspectives on each topic adding their own theories, future trends and research. Therefore, the book should enable researches and clinicians to adopt new ideas for further basic and clinical research.

“Glaucoma - Basic and Clinical Concepts” is a result of contributions from multinational glaucoma specialists worldwide with a common characteristic of taking care of patients. Some of the authors have been engaged for many years in this field, some are just at their beginning. Some authors are researches, other clinicians. Some are world leaders in glaucoma research, others will be. We hope that our readers will be of wide variety just as our authors are.

The book is accessed online to allow free access to as many readers worldwide as possible and is also available on print for those who do not have online access or are interested in having their own hard copy. This will definitely contribute to distributing the knowledge on glaucoma among researchers and clinicians.

XPreface

I would like to acknowledge each and every one of the contributors for their excellent work on each chapter. Each of them devoted time and effort to write a chapter and to contribute to the success of this book and for the advancement of glaucoma research.

I would like to thank Mr. Davor Vidic, the book Publishing Process Manager for his tremendous efforts to publish an excellent book and his endless support, Ms. Ana Nikolic, the Head of Editorial Consultants at InTech for her useful assistance and for choosing me to be the Editor of the book. Many thanks to the technical editors for their arranging the book in a uniform format and to InTech – Open Access publisher - without this initiative, the book would have never been published. Lastly, to my family, teachers and students from whom I studied throughout the years.

I hope that this book will be the first in a series of books in all the different specialties within ophthalmology. I wish you, the reader, an enjoyable journey through glaucoma, one of the most interesting and challenging specialties in medicine in general and, in ophthalmology, in particular.

The book is a product of global cooperation for the benefit of physicians and patients all over the world. I hope that it will serve as an example for others to follow.

Shimon Rumelt, MD, MPA

Department of Ophthalmology,

Western Galilee – Nahariya Medical Center,

Nahariya,

Israel