Glaucoma is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that frequently results in irreversible blindness. Glaucoma causes death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons in the optic nerve, resulting in visual field deficits and eventual loss of visual acuity. Glaucoma is a complex optic neuropathy, and a successful strategy for its treatment requires not only better management of known risk factors such as elevated intraocular pressure and the development of improved tools for detecting RGC injury but also treatments that address this injury (i.e., neuroprotection). Experimental models of glaucoma provide insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and aid the development of neuroprotective therapies.
Keywords: animal models; clinical trials; glaucoma; neurodegeneration; neuroprotection; optic nerve.