ABSTRACT
The optic nerve is the conduit that transmits nerve signals created at the photoreceptors directly to the brain. Diseases of the optic nerve head tend to require less retinal imaging when compared to other retinal diseases. This is because many causative factors of optic nerve head disorders are outside of the retina or even the eye. These diseases are often treated by subspecialty physicians, such as glaucoma specialists and neuro-ophthalmologists, who are typically ordering imaging as part of a larger evaluation and treatment plan. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that involve optic neuropathy or optic nerve and nerve fiber layer damage, usually due to increased intraocular pressure relative to what is tolerable by the affected person's optic nerve. There are several types of glaucoma, the most common being primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). In POAG, the trabecular meshwork is no longer efficiently draining aqueous humor.
