The glaucoma is a disease of the eye that goes along with a temporary or cronic increase of the intraocular pressure. The optic papilla is being excavated (yellow dint) and can atrophy during further progression of the disease, which causes a scotoma and diminished vision. An ophthalmoscopy (picture) shows that the papilla is faded away, the vessel entry point is deepened and the in- and outcoming vessels are bent down. The reason might be a hindrance of drainage of the intraocular fluid (primary glaucoma) or a complication in the progression of a primarily different eye disease (secondary glaucoma). The intraocular fluid (humor aqousus) physiologically drains into the posterior eye chamber and circulates through the pupil into the anterior eye chamber. In the iridocorneal angle, it`s physiologically resorbed via the so-called Schlemm`s canal and flows into the scleral venous plexus. If the angle is obstructed, the intraocular fluid is retained and causes the increase of pressure. The point of best vision (macula) is seen in a pale orange. The scotoma usually begins paracentrally (black margin).
