A clear understanding and definition of the glaucomas continues to elude the clinician. Broadening awareness of the many risk factors in glaucoma, the wide variety of presentations of the disease and greater understanding of the pattern of progression will help to improve treatment protocols. In the meantime, the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease remains a huge clinical and financial burden. Modern imaging techniques permit quantitative stereometric assessment of the optic nerve head and nerve fibre layer, affording morphologic evaluation to complement clinical psychophysical investigation.