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International Glaucoma Review has incorporated a new section: 'Glaucoma Dialogue'. In this section, we will select published manuscripts of import and potential impact for discussion. It also provides a forum for manuscripts that some might judge to be controversial or where further discussion of the experimental models or data is warranted. Solicited comments of experts will be sent to the authors of a selected manuscript for a response. Both comments and responses will be published in IGR in their entirety. This should provide interesting information for our readership that is not otherwise available from the published manuscript.
The discussion of this first selected manuscript raises some interesting issues relating to the methods and presentation of the experimental results. The senior author responds to some, but not all, of the insightful expert comments. I would have liked to have heard more discussion around the high percentage of apoptosis in the model system, and a reconciliation of the apparent high death rates and time frame for RGC death compared with what has been reported elsewhere for the rat OHT model.
More discussion is needed around the high percentage of apoptosis in the model systemI also would have liked to have more information about the number of remaining retinal ganglion cells in order to place the '% apoptosis' in context. The validity of this model system will depend upon the relevance to human glaucoma, and this needs to be determined. The relationship between Alzheimer's disease and human glaucoma also is still ambiguous. Finally, all model systems have limitations, and it is important that the respective strengths and weaknesses are understood and acknowledged. I very much appreciate the contributions of all those who participated in this opening Glaucoma Dialogue.