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We evaluated the effect of AAV2- and 17-AAG (17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin)-mediated upregulation of Hsp70 expression on the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) injured by optic nerve crush (ONC). AAV2-Hsp70 expression in the retina was primarily observed in the ganglion cell layer. Approximately 75% of all transfected cells were RGCs. RGC survival in AAV2-Hsp70-injected animals was increased by an average of 110% 2 weeks after the axonal injury compared with the control. The increase in cell numbers was not even across the retinas with a maximum effect of approximately 306% observed in the inferior quadrant. 17-AAG-mediated induction of Hsp70 expression has been associated with cell protection in various models of neurodegenerative diseases. We show here that a single intravitreal injection of 17-AAG (0.2 ug ul(-1)) results in an increased survival of ONC-injured RGCs by approximately 49% compared with the vehicle-treated animals. Expression of Hsp70 in retinas of 17-AAG-treated animals was upregulated approximately by twofold compared with control animals. Our data support the idea that the upregulation of Hsp70 has a beneficial effect on the survival of injured RGCs, and the induction of this protein could be viewed as a potential neuroprotective strategy for optic neuropathies.

Br J Ophthalmol 2004;88:99-103 Aim: To determine outcomes of bleb excision and conjunctival advancement for leaking or hypotonous eyes after glaucoma filtering surgery. Methods: In a retrospective case series the [...]

The secretory tissue of the eye, the ciliary processes, contains an enzyme receptor complex, composed of membrane proteins, the catalytic moiety of the enzyme adenylate cyclase, a guanyl nucleotide regulatory protein (or N protein), and other features. The enzyme can be activated by well-known neurohumoral or humoral agents, catecholamines, glycoprotein hormones produced by the hypothalamic pituitary axis, and other related compounds, including placental gonadotropin, organic fluorides, and forskolin, a diterpene. These compounds cause the ciliary epithelia to produce cyclic AMP at an accelerated rate. Cyclic AMP, as a second messenger, causes, either directly or indirectly, a decrease in the net rate of aqueous humor inflow that may be modulated by cofactors. Clinical syndromes fit the experimental data so that an integrated explanation can be given for the reduced intraocular pressure witnessed under certain central nervous system and adrenergic influences. The molecular biology of this concept provides important leads for future investigations that bear directly both upon the regulation of intraocular pressure and upon glaucoma.

PurposeCompare the efficacy and survival of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin-C (MMC) between Asian American and Caucasian patients in the same clinical setting.MethodsIn total, 29 Asian American patients (29 eyes) with trabeculectomies were matched case to case with 29 Caucasian patients (29 eyes) retrospectively. Matching criteria included age, glaucoma subtype, and preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), gender, surgeon, ocular history, and glaucoma medications. Criteria of success included: (1) Final IOP >5 and <22 mmHg, (2) IOP reduction ≥20%, or final IOP ≤10 mmHg, and (3) without additional glaucoma surgery, loss of light perception, or complication.ResultsMean follow-up durations of Asian American and Caucasian group were 40.11±22.5 months and 38.8±17.7 months, respectively (P=0.81). At the final visits, IOP decreased from 18.7±6.1 to 10.9±4.0 mmHg (P<0.0001) in the Asian American group, and from 19.0±5.5 to 11.0±3.8 mmHg (P<0.0001) in the Caucasian group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in IOP levels at 6 months, 1 year, and final visits. The probabilities of trabeculectomy survival (continuing to meet definition of success criteria) at 12 and 48 months were 75.9 and 56.6% in the Asian American group and 82.8 and 66.6% in the Caucasian group, respectively. (P=0.46) There were no significant differences for rates of surgical success, failure, complication, vision decrease, hypotony, and cataract development. Patients who had episodes of hypotony had a higher rate of diagnosis of low-tension glaucoma subtype (P=0.02).ConclusionsIn a case-controlled comparison of an intermediate-term follow-up of trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC, Asian American patients have a similar efficacy and survival probability as Caucasian patients.Eye (2007) 21, 71–78. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702128; published online 14 October 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By including an eye examination as part of routine care, you'll be able to detect vision problems such as cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy in early stages, especially in older and diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anterior chamber depth was measured in patients with primary open angle glaucoma, low tension glaucoma, pigmentary dispersion syndrome, and glaucoma suspects. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that anterior chamber depth is a function of sex, age, and refractive error. Values for anterior chamber depth corrected for age and refractive error were greater in patients with pigmentary dispersion syndrome than in patients with other forms of open angle glaucoma or in glaucoma suspects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]