The ophthalmic literature dealing with diseases of the optic nerve, tracts, and visual cortex was reviewed for the period November 19761 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.