Diurnal and intervisit fluctuations in IOP are strongly associated with progression of open angle glaucoma and therefore need to be minimized. Control of diurnal fluctuations of IOP with different ocular hypotensive medications has been studied in some detail. But how do IOP changes contribute to progressive glaucomatous optic nerve damage? It is reasonable to assume that there are two principal effects of IOP changes. First, IOP fluctuations result in changes in the stresses and strains on the ONH which in turn result in morphological changes to the ONH. These morphological changes could in turn result in stretching and damage to axons of the ONH. Secondly, IOP fluctuations results in changes to the forces acting on the ONH vasculature, leading to changes in ONH vascular perfusion. These changes to perfusion could in turn result in relative ischemia of the ONH and consequent ONH damage.