Regional Differences in the Structure of the Lamina Cribrosa and Their Relation to Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Damage
- 1 January 1981
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in American Journal of Ophthalmology
- Vol. 99 (1), 137-143
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.1981.03930010139020
Abstract
• Previously, there was no feature of optic nerve head anatomy or physiology that could explain the greater susceptibility for early damage in some nerve fibers by chronic glaucoma. Using a new technique for scanning electron microscopic examination of human optic nerve heads, regional differences were found in the fine structure of the lamina cribrosa. The superior and inferior parts of the lamina at the level of the sclera appear to contain larger pores and thinner connective tissue support for the passage of nerve-fiber bundles than the nasal and temporal parts of the lamina. Since the superior and inferior laminar zones are the sites of passage for arcuate area ganglion cell axons that are most susceptible to glaucoma damage, the differences found in laminar structure in these locations may explain the characteristic pattern of early glaucomatous field loss.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
- Practical Use of Area Computation for Assessment of Visual Fields: Analysis of the Results of Mecobalamin Therapy for Visual Field Defects in Chronic GlaucomaDocumententa Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series, 1985
- Pit-like changes of the optic nerve head in open-angle glaucoma.British Journal of Ophthalmology, 1978
- Selective Atrophy of the Radial Peripapillary Capillaries in Chronic GlaucomaAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology, 1968
- THE LAMINA CRIBROSA AND ITS NATUREBritish Journal of Ophthalmology, 1947