Neurodegeneration in glaucoma: Disease progresses despite pharmaceutical and surgical intervention
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and commonly associated with an elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP).1 One quarter to one third of patients have moderate to rapidly progressive disease despite treatment with IOP lowering medication.2 The current standard of care does not address neuroinflammation or provide neuroprotection — patients still lose sight and suffer blindness.
Normotensive glaucoma is a form of disease not associated with changes in IOP, with the highest prevalence in Asian populations (>80% of glaucoma cases).3 For these patients, there are limited treatment options.
Recent insights by FireCyte’s scientific founder Dong Feng Chen show that dysfunctional microglia foster an inflammatory environment that is toxic to retinal ganglion cells, the neurons that connect the retina to the brain.
1 CDC & Bright Focus Foundation: www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/glaucoma-facts-figures
2 Review of Optometry: www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/oct-can-spot-glaucoma-fast-progressors
3 NIH: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7787092/#:~:text=In%20Asia%2C%20the%20prevalence%20of%20POAG%20is%20about%202.34%25