PubMed ID: 11880717
Author(s): Wein FB, Levin LA. Current understanding of neuroprotection in glaucoma. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2002 Apr;13(2):61-7. Review. PMID 11880717
Journal: Current Opinion In Ophthalmology, Volume 13, Issue 2, Apr 2002
The most common optic neuropathy is glaucomatous optic neuropathy, distinguished by a distinctive and progressive excavation of the optic nerve head without significant pallor of the remaining neuroretinal rim. Neuroprotection is a novel strategy for treating disorders that affect the nervous system by preventing death of neurons. In glaucomatous optic neuropathy, the neurons that die are retinal ganglion cells. This article reviews the recent basic science relevant to neuroprotection, particularly with respect to retinal ganglion cell death in glaucomatous and other optic neuropathies.