What causes glaucoma?

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    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Although the exact causes of primary glaucoma have not yet been established, in most cases, the level of intraocular pressure is related to the degree of glaucomatous damage observed. Independently or in addition to intraocular pressure, other factors — including an insufficient supply of oxygen to the optic nerve head, excessive stimulation of the glutamate system, and the formation of free radicals and inflammatory cytokines — may individually or collectively contribute to the development of glaucomatous damage.[1][2]

    References

    1. ^Josef Flammer, Selim Orgül, Vital P Costa, Nicola Orzalesi, Günter K Krieglstein, Luis Metzner Serra, Jean-Paul Renard, Einar StefánssonThe impact of ocular blood flow in glaucomaProg Retin Eye Res.(2002 Jul)
    2. ^Shoeb Ahmad S, Abdul Ghani S, Hemalata Rajagopal TCurrent Concepts in the Biochemical Mechanisms of Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration.J Curr Glaucoma Pract.(2013)