Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (3): 545-546.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.350196

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Ferroptosis and glaucoma: implications in retinal ganglion cell damage and optic nerve survival

Ming Yang*, Kwok-Fai So*, Wai-Ching Lam*, Amy Cheuk Yin Lo*   

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Yang M, So KF, Lam WC, Lo ACY)
    State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (So KF)
    GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China (So KF)
  • Online:2023-03-15 Published:2022-08-26
  • Contact: Ming Yang, hrmeym@connect.hku.hk; Kwok-Fai So, PhD, hrmaskf@hku.hk; Wai-Ching Lam, MD, waichlam@hku.hk; Amy Cheuk Yin Lo, PhD, amylo@hku.hk.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by Albert Bing-Ching Young Professorship Endowment in Ophthalmology to WCL; Health and Medical Research Fund, the Food and Health Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (06171516) and General Research Fund, Research Grants Council, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (17112919) to ACYL.

Abstract: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, which leads to a progressive loss of vision. Glaucoma can be classified into two types: primary open-angle glaucoma and primary closed-angle glaucoma. Primary open-angle glaucoma can be caused by the blockage of the trabecular meshwork, and this results in elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP), leading to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. However, many glaucoma patients have normal IOP; this is known as normal-tension glaucoma. Nevertheless, excitotoxic damage and oxidative stress can also lead to RGC damage in normal-tension glaucoma (Almasieh et al., 2012). Glaucomatous genes such as TIGR, OPTN, and CYP1B1 have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of glaucoma. However, some glaucomatous patients may remain asymptomatic in the early, moderate, and late stages. Another type of glaucoma is primary closed-angle glaucoma. In this clinical condition, a relative pupillary block is contributed by the iris obstructing aqueous outflow. The patients may suffer from corneal swelling, headache, nausea, and blurred vision during the acute phase.