Preface

Glaucoma specialty progressed enormously in the last two decades We are evident to better understanding the genetics and pathogenesis of different types of glaucomas that will ena‐ ble us to develop novel approaches for treatment, new imaging techniques such as anterior segment optical coherence tomography, Heidelberg Retinal Tomography and scanning laser polarimetry. In addition, application of new devices such as the ExPress shunt, iStent and Solx Gold shunt and new procedures such as canaloplasty and deep sclerostomy to mini‐ mize postoperative complications of the traditional trabeculectomy without compromising the success of the procedure have been developed.

This book arranged discusses first the basic aspects of glaucomas, including the final offend‐ ers, the retinal ganglion cells and many other topics and clinical aspects including evalua‐ tion and management of glaucoma and the different types of glaucomas, their features, evaluation, differential diagnosis and specific approaches for management. The book covers some but not all the topics in the field. It is a product of a balance between expedited pub‐ lishing process and encompassing the entire field.

The book is intended for the general ophthalmologists, glaucoma specialists, and research‐ ers in the field, residents and fellows. It covers both basic and clinical concepts of glaucoma and each author incorporated his/ hers on perspectives on each topic adding his/ hers won theories, future trends and research. Therefore, the book should enable researches and clini‐ cians to adopt new ideas for further basic and clinical research and implementation of the approaches for treating glaucomas.

The book is a result of multi-national glaucoma specialists from around the globe with a common characteristic of taking care of patients. Some of the authors are engaged for many years with this field, some are just at their beginning. Some authors are researches, other clinicians. Some are world leaders, others will be. I hope that the readers will be of wide verity as our authors.

The book is accessed online to allow a free access to as many readers worldwide as possible and is also available on print for those who do not have online access or are interested in having their own hard copy. This will definitely contribute to the distribution of the knowl‐ edge on glaucoma between researchers and clinicians.

The book is a welcome addition to the previous books on the subject published by InTech: "The mystery of glaucoma" edited by Tomaš Kubena, "Glaucoma – current clinical and re‐ search aspects" by Pinakin Gunvant and "Gaucoma – basic and clinical concepts" by Shi‐ mon Rumelt. It expands and updates previous topics and adds new ones.

I would like to acknowledge each and every one of the contributors for their excellent work on each chapter. Each one of them devoted time and efforts to write a chapter and to con‐ tribute to the success of this book and for the advancement of glaucoma. I thank Ms. Iva Simcic and Ana Pantar, the book Publishing Process Managers for their tremendous efforts to publish an excellent book and her endless support, to Ms. Ana Nikolic, the Head of Editorial Consultants for her useful assistance and for both for choosing me to be the edi‐ tor of the book. Many thanks to the technical editors for their arranging the book in a uni‐ form format and for the publisher InTech, that without its initiative, this book would have never been published. Lastly, to my family, teachers and students from whom I studied throughout the years.

I hope that this book will be part of a series of books in all the different specialties within ophthalmology. I wish you, the reader an enjoyable journey throughout glaucoma, one of the most interesting and challenging specialties in medicine in general and, in ophthalmolo‐ gy, in particular.

The book is a product of global cooperation for the benefit of physicians and patients all over the world and I hope that it will serve as an example for others to follow.

> **Shimon Rumelt, MD, MPA** Department of Ophthalmology, Western Galilee – Nahariya Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel

**Basic Aspects**

**Section 1**

**Section 1**
