Hypertensive glaucoma is defined as a group of diseases with progressive loss of the neuroretinal margin of the optic disc that causes characteristic degenerative optic neuropathy. The present study provided an updated summary of the physiology and pathology of neurotransmission in the visual path, with the focus on glaucoma. The results of positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging and mainly electrophysiological methods demonstrated pathogenesis of nerve cell damage in the visual pathway. Based on these conclusions, neuroprotection in glaucoma was proposed. This consists mainly of the reduction of the intraocular pressure. It is followed by a decrease of glutamate in the synaptic cleft and blockade of its binding to the NMDA receptors. The supply of energy substrates to altered nerve cells is also indispensable. Therapy should be systemic due to impairment of the complete visual path.

CTU Prague Faculty of Biomedical Engineering 272 01 Kladno 2 Czech Republic

Eye Clinic JL Faculty of Biomedical Engineering CTU Prague 158 00 Prague 5 Czech Republic

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OCT angiography, RNFL and the visual field at different values of intraocular pressure