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Editors Selection IGR 16-1

Basic Science: Neuroprotection

Comment by Jost Jonas on:

60369 Hydrostatic pressure does not cause detectable changes in survival of human retinal ganglion cells, Osborne A; Aldarwesh A; Rhodes JD et al., PLoS ONE, 2015; 10: e0115591

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In this study, Osborne and colleagues found that directly applied hydrostatic pressure within a range of ten to 100 mmHg, in contrast to simulated ischemia, had no detectable impact on the survival of retinal ganglion cells and on stress-signaling in human organotypic retinal cultures. This result might have been anticipated since it is not the absolute pressure within the intravitreal cavity but the trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference which may be the main pressure-related parameter for the development of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

The intraocular pressure is not a parameter of absolute pressure butjust describes the trans-corneal pressure difference

Consequently, deep-sea diving to a depth of 100 m does not cause an acute glaucoma attack although the absolute pressure in the eye (as well as in the cerebrospinal fluid space) is approximately 11 times higher than atmospheric. Conversely, climbing Mt. Everest with an air pressure of roughly only 50% of the air pressure at sea level does not cure glaucoma, although the absolute pressure in the eye (as well as in the cerebrospinal fluid space) is approximately 50% of the normal values. NB: The intraocular pressure is not a parameter of absolute pressure, but just describes the trans-corneal pressure difference.

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