Biochemical changes and treatment in glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second cause of blindness worldwide. This disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by high intraocular pressure, loss of retinal ganglion cells (apoptosis). Even though there is much research done in this field, the results have not yet managed to stop the progression of glaucoma or to heal this pathology. Free oxygen radicals play a major role; they are formed in the aqueous humor and in the vitreous and they produce apoptosis of the neurons in the optic nerve head, degradation of the trabecular meshwork cells. The purpose of the article is to help in trying to understand the physiopathology of glaucoma and the efficacy of its treatments. Abbreviations: IOP = intraocular pressure, NO = nitric oxide, NOS = nitric oxide synthase, ROCK = coiled coil-forming protein kinase, RCG = retinal ganglion cells, NGF = nerve growth factor.