Zeitschrift für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie
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Abstrakt

Diabetes Mellitus and Retinal Vein Occlusion as Risk Factors for Open Angle Glaucoma and Neuroprotective Therapies for Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuropathy

Guzel Bikbova, Toshiyuki Oshitari and Shuichi Yamamoto

Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) are major diseases that can lead to blindness and affect mainly the elderly population worldwide. The results of recent investigations have demonstrated that the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons is the common pathological change in these three disease processes. The exact mechanism that is responsible for the onset and progression of RGC death and axonal degeneration in patients with glaucoma, DR and RVO has not been definitively determined. Thus, identifying the risk factors for the onset and the progression of RGC neuropathy can help in deciding not only the specific treatments but also whether the treatments should be initiated, withheld, or augmented in individuals with glaucoma, DR, and RVO. This review describes the major risk factors for the onset of glaucoma, and the factors associated with the progression of glaucoma that have been obtained from large population-based prevalence and incidence studies. In addition, the potential risk factors for glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, and RVO are discussed in terms of the results obtained by both clinical and laboratory studies. This review introduces potential neuroprotective therapies for damaged RGC in eyes with RGC neuropathy, and the factors that should be considered for a complete therapy for the RGC neuropathy involved in glaucoma, DR and RVO. Neuroprotective therapies combined with a reduction of the IOP should be considered for the complete management of RGC neuropathy involved in glaucoma, DR and RVO.