Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in glaucoma

Although abnormal intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main risk factor for the development of primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG), other culprits including ocular microvascular dysregulation and systemic vascular abnormalities have been implicated in its etiology. The status of autonomic nervous system (ANS) is an important determinant of the systemic hemodynamic parameters implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis. Nevertheless, assessing the ANS function is not a practice in glaucoma diagnosis and management. Consequently, there is a lack of alternative therapies tailored to address associated systemic risk factors for POAG on a case and chronological wise basis; this approach could possibly be more effective in preventing the progression and visual loss in selected glaucoma cases.