Vasogenic origin of visual field defects and optic nerve changes in glaucoma.

Many authors have speculated upon the possibility of a vasogenic origin for the visual field defects, optic disc cupping, and cavernous degeneration in glaucoma, but the exact mechanism has remained obscure. In our recent experimental studies (Hayreh and Perkins, I 968, I 969; Hayreh, I 969) we discovered the important role of the ciliary circulation, particularly the contribution of the choroidal circulation to the prelaminar part of the optic disc and the retrolaminar part of the optic nerve.