Abstract
Autonomic nerve function in the anterior segment of the eye was assessed by measurement of the pupil cycle time in 189 patients with ocular hypertension and 70 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Parasympathetic dysfunction was significantly present in ocular hypertensive patients with narrow irido-corneal angles, though not in wide-angle subjects. The results are discussed, with particular reference to the accumulating evidence implicating autonomic dysfunction as a significant factor in the pathogenesis of the primary glaucomas.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kolker A E and Hetherington J (1983) Becker-Shaffer's Diagnosis and therapy of the glaucomas, 5th ed. St Louis, Mosby, pp 402, 373
Mapstone R and Clark C V (1985) The prevalence of autonomic neropathy in glaucoma. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 104:265–269
Clark C V and Mapstone R (1985) Autonomic neuropathy in ocular hypertension. Lancet 2:185–187
Martyn C N (1985) Edge-light pupil cycle time: quantifiable autonomic reflex. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat 48:602 (abstr)
Anonymous (1985) The autonomic nervous system and the eye. Lancet 2:591–592
Miller S D and Thompson H S (1978) Edge-light pupil cycle time. Br J Ophthalmol 62:495–500
Miller S D and Thompson H S (1979) The pupil cycle time In: Thompson HS (ed): Topics in neuro-ophthalmology. Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins pp 159–163
Hollows F C and Graham P A (1966) Intra-ocular pressure, glaucoma, and glaucoma suspects in a defined population, Br J Ophthalmol 50:570–586
Shaffer R N (1960) Gonioscopy, ophthalmoscopy, and perimetry Trans Am Acad Opthalmol Otolaryngol 64:112–127
Dunnet C W (1964) New tables for multiple comparisons with a control. Biometrics 20:482–491
Kaback M B, Burde R M and Becker B (1976) Relative afferent pupillary defect in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 81:462–465
Martyn C N and Ewing D J (1986) Pupil cycle time: a simple way of measuring an autonomic reflex. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiat (in press)
Mapstone R (1981) Autonomic effects on aqueous outflow. Res Clin Forums 3:35–39
Mapstone R (1979) Mechanisms in ocular hypertension. Br J Ophthalmol 63:325–330
Clark C V and Mapstone R (1985) Variation in anterior chamber volume during the pilocarpine-phenylephrine provocative test. Doc Ophthalmol 43:295–300
Coakes R L, Lloyd-Jones D and Hitchings R A (1979) Anterior chamber volume, Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 99:78–81
Mapstone R (1968) Mechanics of pupil block. Br J Ophthalmol 52:19–25
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clark, C.V., Mapstone, R. Anterior segment autonomic dysfunction in ocular hypertension. Doc Ophthalmol 64, 201–207 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00159994
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00159994