Vitamins and glaucoma

Oxidative stress is strongly implicated in glaucoma in different tissues including trabecular meshwork, human Tenon’s fibroblasts, and retinal ganglion cells and their axons. An established, naturally occurring anti‐oxidant is Vitamin E. Vitamin E is found in phospholipid cell membranes where it prevents lipid peroxidation and membrane damage by acting as a peroxyl radical scavenger. It is able to move through bilipid membranes and can help in enzyme activity modulation. Likewise, it is involved in vesicle transport and cellular trafficking. Alpha tocopherol is perhaps the best known form of Vitamin E, although d‐ tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS), a water soluble form of vitamin E, is also well‐described being used as a drug delivery vehicle. Vitamin E has recently been shown to have other roles including regulating signal transduction, gene expression, and acting as redox sensor and is being investigated in neurodegeneration. This talk will discuss the various applications of Vitamin E in glaucoma.