Glaucoma - a neurodegenerative disease with cerebral neuroconnectivity elements.

Abstract

Glaucoma is one of important causes of irreversible vision loss and remains a global health problem. The pathophysiology of glaucoma involves several etiopathogenic mechanisms that have generated the development of topical and surgical treatments with an effect in slowing the progression of the disease. In the last decade, it was concluded that glaucomatous optic neuropathy is a disease with neurodegenerative elements, the destructive neuronal lesions being located not only in the structure of the retina, but also at the central visual pathways. This review highlights the experimental and clinical data obtained so far, which underline the neurodegenerative character of the glaucomatous disease and the elements of neuroconnectivity developed during the evolution of the disease.