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Neurodegeneration of the visual pathway in glaucoma
Author(s) -
CORDEIRO MF
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.2854.x
Subject(s) - glaucoma , neuroprotection , neurodegeneration , neuroscience , medicine , economic shortage , ophthalmology , biology , disease , pathology , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
Glaucoma has recently become recognized as a neurodegenerative disorder. This has been predominantly because that neuronal and axonal changes occur throughout the visual pathway from the retina to the brain. Furthermore, as in other neurodegenerative conditions, there are numerous studies investigating neuroprotective agents in glaucoma, using vitro and in vivo models. Historically, there has been a problem translating results however, from the laboratory to the clinic. In fact, there is a real shortage of good clinical trials in this area. In glaucoma, it is recognized that there is a need an alternative therapeutic approach, independent of IOP reduction. Several mechanisms have been implicated in initiating the apoptotic cascade in glaucomatous retinopathy and numerous drugs have been shown to be neuroprotective in animal models of glaucoma, although translating to the clinical arena has been difficult to date. This lecture will summarize neurodegeneration of the visual pathway in glaucoma and review current potential neuroprotective strategies.