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Abstract #76885 Published in IGR 19-3
The coma in glaucoma: Retinal ganglion cell dysfunction and recovery
Fry LE; Fahy E; Chrysostomou V; Hui F; Tang J; Van Wijngaarden P; Petrou S; Crowston JGProgress in Retinal and Eye Research 2018; 65: 77-92
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration causes vision loss in patients with glaucoma, and this has been generally considered to be irreversible due to RGC death. We question this assertion and summarise accumulating evidence that points to visual function improving in glaucoma patients with treatment, particularly in the early stages of disease. We propose that prior to death, RGCs enter periods of dysfunction but can recover with relief of RGC stress. We first summarise the clinical evidence for vision improvement in glaucoma and then detail our experimental work that points to the underlying processes that underpin clinical improvement. We show that functional recovery can occur following a prolonged course of RGC dysfunction and demonstrate how the capacity for recovery can be modified. Detecting RGC dysfunction and augmenting recovery of such 'comatosed' RGCs holds clinical potential to improve early detection of glaucoma and improve visual function.
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, VIC, Australia; Monash University, VIC, Australia.
Full articleClassification:
13.2.2.2 Improvement (Part of: 13 Therapeutic prognosis and outcome > 13.2 Outcome > 13.2.2 Visual field)
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
3.6 Cellular biology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
