The forth meeting of the Organizing Committee of the Glaucoma Society of the International Congress of Ophthalmology was held on March 10-13,1990 in Bali, Indonesia. Traditionally this meeting is attended by committee mem- bers and invited experts and precedes the International Congress of Ophthal- mology under the auspices of the International Council of Ophthalmology. The scientific format was structured by Stephen M. Drance, OC, MD,lVan- couver (President of the Society from 1982-1990) and John Hetherington, JR, MD,ISan Francisco (General Secretary of the Society from 1982-1990). The local organization was in the very competent assistance of Josef Kadi, an ophthalmologist from Surabaya, Indonesia. Glaucoma Update IV comprises forty presentations from this meeting high- lighting the latest progress in global glaucomatology. Basic research related to the pathomechanisms of the disease, new diagnostic approaches and treat- ment modalities contribute to the best possible care of our patients. The ob- jectives of the Society are to share the frontiers of knowledge presented in these proceeding with everyone dealing with glaucoma patients all over the world. The Society is indebted to Chibret International/Rahway, Allergan Pharma- ceuticals/Irvine, and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals/Tokushima for support of the meeting and to Chibret Pharmaceuticals GmbH Munich for supporting the printing expenses of this volume.

The second Committee Meeting of the Glaucoma Society of the International Congress of Ophthalmology was held in Carmel Valley ICalifornia from October 22-27, 1982. Traditionally this meeting was closed and preceded the International Congress of Ophthalmology in San Francisco. A group of roughly 80 experts on glaucoma - active members of the committee and invited guests - exchanged latest scientific experiences on the progress in pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of the glaucomas. The aim ofthe meeting was to provide quite informal presentations grouped around main topics and ample, lively discussions. The scientific and local organization was in the hands of Jack Hetherington Jr.lSan Francisco and Stephen M. Drance/Vancouver. It is the sincere wish of the society to express warmest thanks to Valerie Hetherington who took in a most charming and efficient way much of the burden of the local organization. The idea of pre-circulation of all scientific presentations 2-3 months before the meeting to all participants and guests proved to be effective with respect to fruitful and stimulating discussions at the site of the meeting. We thank all participants for their co-operation in sending their manuscripts in time. The society is indebted to Chibret Int. Pharmaceutical Company for generous support of this publication.

The International Council of Ophthalmology agreed to the creation of an International Glaucoma Committee, which should have a limited number of members, 40 at a maximum. This committee will hold a closed meeting every 4 years on the occasion of the International Congress of Ophthalmology and will report to the International Council on the practical and clinical advances in glaucoma detection and treatment. This report will be published in the proceedings of the International Congress. The committee will advise and direct the activities of the International Glaucoma Society, which will hold a glaucoma symposion prior to each International Congress of Oph thalmology and which will be open to anyone interested in glaucoma. This is now the first meeting of the committee. W hen I look at the program and the names of the speakers, I am convinced that it will be very fruitful. This is my most sincere wish. I should like to thank very warmly Prof. Leydhecker for preparing the organization of this group and the scientific program and Prof. Mishima, Prof. Kitazawa, and all of their staff for having so beautifully organized this symposion, which will be very successful, and for having received us with such generous hospitality. I am very grateful to each of the members of the International Glaucoma Committee and to each of our Japanese friends involved in this symposion."

Das vorliegende Buch fasst die wesentlichen Inhalte der Experten-Interviews und Diskussionen aus funf Teilgebieten der Glaukomatologie zusammen.

Es werden alle aktuellen Fragen zeitgemasser Glaukomatologie angesprochen, von kompetenten Spezialisten diskutiert und in ihren wesentlichen Inhalten dargestellt.

Zu f nf Teilgebieten der klinischen Glaukomatologie werden typische Fallbeispiele vorgestellt, in den diagnostisch richtungsweisenden Befunden illustriert und das Patientenmanagement nach neuesten Erkenntnissen durch anerkannte Glaukomspezialisten diskutiert.