Glaucoma Treatment Surfaced as Damaged Optic Nerve Fibers Regrow

regenerating mouse retinal ganglion cells

A new study carried out in mice which was founded by National Institute of Health (NIH) has shown for the first time that damaged optic nerve fibers (retinal ganglion cell axons) can actually regrow by high-contrast visual stimulation of retinal neurons. The axons even grow further when the previous stimulation is combined with chemically induced neural stimulation and the treated mice latter regained their vision partially.

The optic nerve is a paired nerve that connects the eye to the brain. It carries visual information from the retina to the brain for proper interpretation which enables us to see. So for us to see there must be a connection between our eyes and the brain. Thus, when part of these connections is interrupted by any means, we experience partial or tunnel vision. This is what happens in glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a group of disease that damages the eyes optic nerve resulting in gradual loss of vision or blindness. It is caused by high intraocular pressure (high eye pressure). When this eye pressure is high, it creates a force inside the eye globe which severely acts on the optic nerve and damages it resulting in a subsequent vision loss. Although the patient will not notice the loss in vision because it is gradual but if this pressure is left high, a time will reach when he/she will experience tunnel vision or loss of peripheral vision.

Glaucoma causes loss of vision when they damage the optic nerves and in adults, these nerves (retinal ganglion cell axons) fail to regrow on their own, which is why vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible.

"Reconnecting neurons in the visual system is one of the biggest challenges to developing regenerative therapies for binding eye diseases like glaucoma. This research shows that mammals have a greater capacity for central nervous system regeneration than previously known." NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, MD., PhD.

If this new study is effective in human eyes, then vision loss and blindness caused by optic neuropathies including glaucoma will no longer be a serious issue.

Source: National Eye Institute (NEI)