Diseases of the optic nerve, tracts, and visual cortex.

The ophthalmic literature dealing with diseases of the optic nerve, tracts, and visual cortex was reviewed for the period November 1976 to November 1977. Thirty-three papers of interest to optometrists have been abstracted. Main areas of interest include response of posterior segment to anterior-segment disturbances; structural anomalies in nerve-head region, including a new potential cause for hypoplasia of optic nerve; speculation on possible common origins of RPE/Bruch's membrane disturbances and endothelium/Descemet's membrane disturbances; a vascular hypothesis for pathogenesis of optic-nerve-head drusen; an explanation for reversibility of infantile glaucomatous cupping; glaucomatocyclitic crisis; the role of axoplasmic flow in papilledema; new developments in field testing for early glaucomatous loss; effects of cerebral vascular accidents on color vision; and two interesting instances of systemic disease with ocular manifestations.