Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method comprising the step of: administering radiation in a neurodegeneration-inhibiting amount to a head or eye area of a subject to thereby protectively inhibit the eye of the subject against neurodegeneration caused by glaucoma, prior to the onset of glaucoma,wherein the subject has the potential to develop an age-related form of hereditary glaucoma that causes optic nerve damage. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is therapeutically targeted to the posterior portion of the eye. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the radiation is therapeutically targeted to tissue in the retina. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the radiation is therapeutically targeted to tissue in the optical disk. 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the radiation is therapeutically targeted to tissue in the optic nerve. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is gamma radiation. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to therapeutically interact with tissue in the retina. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to therapeutically interact with tissue in the optic disk. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to therapeutically interact with tissue in the optic nerve. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation dose is in the range of about 8 Gray (Gy) to about 15 Gray (Gy). 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation is below 2.5 Grays (Gy). 12. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation dose is in the range of about 1.0 Gray (Gy) to about 5.0 Gray (Gy). 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the gamma radiation dose is about 2.5 Gray (Gy). 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is x-ray radiation. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the x-ray radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to therapeutically interact with tissue in the retina. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the x-ray radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to therapeutically interact with tissue in the optic disk. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the x-ray radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to therapeutically interact with tissue in the optic nerve. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the x-ray radiation dose is in the range of about 8 Gray (Gy) to about 15 Gray (Gy). 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the x-ray radiation dose is in the range of about 1.0 Gray (Gy) to about 5.0 Gray (Gy). 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the x-ray radiation dose is about 2.5 Gray (Gy). 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation dose is in the range of about 8 Gray (Gy) to about 15 Gray (Gy). 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation dose is in the range of about 1.0 Gray (Gy) to about 5.0 Gray (Gy). 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation dose is about 2.5 Gray (Gy). 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the form of glaucoma is an age-related hereditary form of glaucoma. 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation is administered as two or more approximately equal radiation doses. 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurodegeneration-inhibiting amount of x-ray radiation administered provides a delivery area to the head or eye area of the subject having a diameter of at least 10 microns. 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurodegeneration-inhibiting amount of x-ray radiation administered provides a delivery area having a diameter of at least 50 microns. 28. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has an intraocular pressure (IOP) less than or equal to 21 mm Hg. 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has a genetic precursor for developing neurodegeneration. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the precursor is selected from the group consisting of GLC1A (1q24), GLC1B (2-cen-q13), GLC1C (3q21-q24), GLC1D (8q23), GLC1E (10p14-p15), GLC1F (7q35-q36), GLC3A (2p21 Cytochrome), P4501B1 (CYP1B1), GLC3B (1p36.2-36.1), Tyrp1 and Gpnmb. 31. The method of claim 1, wherein a cup to disc ratio of the subject is less than 0.5. 32. A method comprising the step of: administering radiation in a neurodegeneration-inhibiting amount to a head or eye area of a subject to thereby protectively inhibit the eye of the subject against neurodegeneration caused by glaucoma, prior to the onset of glaucoma manifestations,wherein the subject is a suspect of developing glaucoma manifestations because the subject exhibits one or more risks factors for glaucoma, and wherein the risks factors are for an age-related form of glaucoma that causes optic nerve damage. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation interacts with the posterior portion of the eye. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the radiation interacts with tissue in the retina. 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the radiation interacts with tissue in the optical disk. 36. The method of claim 33, wherein the radiation interacts with tissue in the optic nerve. 37. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation is gamma radiation. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the gamma radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to interact with tissue in the retina. 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the gamma radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to interact with tissue in the optic disk. 40. The method of claim 37, wherein the gamma radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to interact with tissue in the optic nerve. 41. The method of claim 37, wherein the gamma radiation dose is in the range of about 8 Grays (Gy) to about 15 Grays (Gy). 42. The method of claim 37, wherein the gamma radiation dose is in the range of about 1.0 Grays (Gy) to about 5.0 Grays (Gy). 43. The method of claim 37, wherein the gamma radiation dose is about 2.5 Grays (Gy). 44. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation is x-ray radiation. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the x-ray radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to interact with tissue in the retina. 46. The method of claim 44, wherein the x-ray radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to interact with tissue in the optic disk. 47. The method of claim 44, wherein the x-ray radiation is applied to the eye and penetrates the eye to at least the retina to interact with tissue in the optic nerve. 48. The method of claim 44, wherein the x-ray radiation dose is in the range of about 8 Grays (Gy) to about 15 Grays (Gy). 49. The method of claim 44, wherein the x-ray radiation dose is in the range of about 1.0 Grays (Gy) to about 5.0 Grays (Gy). 50. The method of claim 44, wherein the x-ray radiation dose is about 2.5 Gy. 51. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation dose is in the range of about 8 Grays (Gy) to about 15 Grays (Gy). 52. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation dose is in the range of about 1.0 Grays (Gy) to about 5.0 Grays (Gy). 53. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation dose is about 2.5 Grays (Gy). 54. The method of claim 32, wherein the form of glaucoma is an age-related hereditary form of glaucoma. 55. The method of claim 32, wherein the radiation is administered as two or more approximately equal radiation doses. 56. The method of claim 32, wherein the neurodegeneration-inhibiting amount of x-ray radiation administered provides a delivery area to the head or eye area of the subject having a diameter of at least 10 microns. 57. The method of claim 32, wherein the neurodegeneration-inhibiting amount of x-ray radiation administered provides a delivery area having a diameter of at least 50 microns. 58. The method of claim 32, wherein the subject has an intraocular pressure (IOP) less than or equal to 16 mm Hg. 59. The method of claim 32, wherein the subject has a genetic precursor for developing neurodegeneration. 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the precursor is selected from the group consisting of GLC1A (1q24), GLC1B (2-cen-q13), GLC1C (3q21-q24), GLC1D (8q23), GLC1E (10p14-p15), GLC1F (7q35-q36), GLC3A (2p21 Cytochrome), P4501B1 (CYP1B1), GLC3B (1p36.2-36.1), Tyrp1 and Gpnmb. 61. The method of claim 32, wherein a cup to disc ratio of the subject is less than 0.5.