A Clinical Consideration: Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Examination And Glaucoma.

The purpose of this paper is to review and investigate how the nerve :fiber layer can be
useful in the diagnosis and early detection of glaucoma. Although historically, the histological changes and ophthalmoscopy findings of the nerve fiber layer in glaucoma have been considered, a definitive conclusion has never been achieved. It remains a rather controversial topic. For myself, the early detection of glaucoma is what I would refer to as a vast "gray zone". There are several parameters that need to be considered in the detection of glaucoma, and there interpretation is rather subjective and easily biased.
Although the evaluation of the retinal nerve fiber layer may not be considered by some, as the standard approach in detecting glaucoma. I would like to present an approach to evaluating the nerve fiber layer and why the information may be useful. With legislation moving in favor of optometrists using therapeutics and the nature of the disease. I feel it is an excellent position for optometry to make a contribution to the field of study. From this statement, I would like to take the opportunity to discuss the different parameters used to define glaucoma and their clinic pitfalls. I would like to emphasize the usefulness and value of the retinal nerve fiber layer evaluation as another means of data to collectively diagnosis glaucomatous change, and provide an approach to evaluating the nerve fiber layer as describe by the current and past literature. I will be referring to primary open angle glaucoma.