The pathogenesis of
normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) is believed to be multifactorial. Studies have
suggested a number of risk factors for progression of optic nerve damage which
include intraocular pressure (IOP), disc hemorrhage (DH), peripapillary
atrophy, immunocompromised conditions, increased blood flow resistance in
orbital vessels and nocturnal hypotension. The intraocular pressure (IOP)
reduction still remains to be the unanimously accepted therapeutic means of
treating NTG. It is, however, unclear how the IOP is related to other risk
factors, many of which appear to be of vascular origin. We will present some
date which indicate IOP reduction may reduce the occurrence of DH, which is a
significant, negative risk factor in NTG.