Clinical Advances in Glaucoma

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Ophthalmology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 14141

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Institute of Health Care Research of the Hospital Clinico San Carlos (IdISSC), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: glaucoma; childhood glaucoma; intraocular pressure; retinal nerve fiber layer; retinal ganglion cell; visual field; optical coherence tomography; angiography; retinography; filtering surgery; minimally invasive glaucoma surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Glaucoma is a chronic and progressive optic neuropathy with resulting deterioration of visual function. Intraocular pressure increase is not the only responsible for the development and progression of glaucoma, although it is the only one on which effective therapeutic action can be carried out.

Recently, many advances in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma have been described. Structural glaucoma diagnostics advances with optical coherence tomography have improved its diagnostic performance. The recent COVID-19 outbreak has led to advances in the development of telemedicine and even iPad perimetric testing. One of the technological advances that has contributed to the increased interest in the influence of the vascular factor on the development of glaucoma is optical coherence tomography with angiography or optical coherence angiotomography. With this non-invasive tool, circumpapillary, papillar and macular vessel density have been shown to be lower in glaucoma patients.

On the other hand, while Goldmann applanation tonometry is still the gold standard for pressure measurements, new tonometers based on different working principles are gradually being introduced into routine clinical practice.

Currently, it is necessary further progress in new diagnostic techniques and telemedicine applied to the disease.

Dr. Carmen Dora Méndez-Hernández
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • intraocular pressure
  • visual field
  • retinography
  • optical coherence tomography
  • optical coherence angiotomography
  • tonometry
  • retinal ganglion cell
  • telemedicine
  • optic neuropathy
  • peripapillary vessel density

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (13 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

9 pages, 814 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the iStent Inject® versus the iStent Inject® W—Both in Combination with Cataract Surgery—In Open-Angle Glaucoma
by Steffen Deneri, Ralph-Laurent Merté, Nicole Eter and Viktoria C. Brücher
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(23), 7259; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237259 - 23 Nov 2023
Viewed by 847
Abstract
We compare the short- and mid-term postoperative outcomes of the iStent inject® with its successor, the iStent inject® W. A retrospective monocentric study was performed to compare the iStent inject® used for cataract surgery with the iStent inject® W, [...] Read more.
We compare the short- and mid-term postoperative outcomes of the iStent inject® with its successor, the iStent inject® W. A retrospective monocentric study was performed to compare the iStent inject® used for cataract surgery with the iStent inject® W, also used for cataract surgery. The primary study endpoint was intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction six months after surgery. Six-month follow-up results were available for 35 eyes from 27 patients in the iStent inject® group and for 32 eyes from 25 patients in the iStent inject® W group. IOP reduction at six months post surgery was significantly greater in the iStent inject® W group (−2.2 mmHg [iStent inject® W] vs. −0.06 mmHg [iStent inject®], p = 0.037). There was a statistically greater decrease in glaucoma medication administration at six months in the iStent inject® group than in the iStent inject® W group (−1.28 agents vs. −0.62 agents, p = 0.007). These findings support the hypothesis that the superior positioning of the iStent inject® W (due to its larger base diameter) compared to the iStent Inject® leads to greater IOP reduction. Because of the short follow-up period, small study cohort, and differences in the number of glaucoma patients, the study results must be interpreted carefully. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3263 KiB  
Article
Identification of Glaucoma in Diabetics Using the Laguna-ONhE Colourimetric Method and OCT Spectralis
by Marta Gonzalez-Hernandez, Nisamar Betancor-Caro, Fatima Mesa-Lugo, Ivan Rodriguez-Talavera, Alicia Pareja-Rios, Isabel Guedes-Guedes, Beatriz Estevez-Jorge, Maricela Trujillo-Blanco, Roberto Cordova-Villegas, Juan Espinoza-Gonzalez, Leticia Siguero-Martin, Carolina Goya-Gonzalez, Maria Rodriguez-Dominguez, Daniel Gonzalez-Hernandez and Manuel Gonzalez de la Rosa
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(18), 5876; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12185876 - 10 Sep 2023
Viewed by 785
Abstract
Background: Previous retrospective results are evaluated prospectively and blinded. Methods: A total of 221 eyes previously classified as normal (G1), 279 as moderate risk of glaucoma (G2) and 217 as high risk (G3) according to the Globin Discriminant Function (GDF) Laguna-ONhE index were [...] Read more.
Background: Previous retrospective results are evaluated prospectively and blinded. Methods: A total of 221 eyes previously classified as normal (G1), 279 as moderate risk of glaucoma (G2) and 217 as high risk (G3) according to the Globin Discriminant Function (GDF) Laguna-ONhE index were examined with OCT Spectralis- Results: In G1, the Bruch’s Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width (BMO-MRW) was 332 ± 55 microns; in G2, it was 252 ± 47 (p < 0.0001); and in G3, 231 ± 44 (p < 0.0001). In G1, the 1% and 5% percentiles were 233 and 248, respectively; in G2, they were lower in 28.80% and 42.29% of cases, respectively; and in G3, in 50.23% and 63.59% of cases, respectively. Most of the cases were normal-tension glaucomas. Laguna-ONhE indices showed a curvilinear correlation with BMO-MRW results. The Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) showed a poor relationship with BMO. Assuming G1 to be truly normal, BMO-MRW would have a Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area of 0.901 for G2 and G3 and 0.651 for RNFL. A significant reduction in pixels corresponding to vessels was found in G2 and G3 vs. G1 (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In some cases, these defects appear to be mainly glaucomatous, and in others, they are associated with diabetic microangiopathy. In normal tension glaucoma, RNFL defects may be less severe than those inside the nerve. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 2961 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Visual Outcomes of Enhanced and Standard Monofocal Intraocular Lens Implantations in Eyes with Early Glaucoma
by Jeoung Woo Nam, Jong Hoon Lee, Haowei Zhang, Mi Sun Sung and Sang Woo Park
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(18), 5830; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12185830 - 7 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1002
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the efficacies and safety of enhanced and standard monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) in eyes with early glaucoma. Patients with concurrent cataracts and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) were enrolled. They underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation. The comprehensive preoperative ophthalmic [...] Read more.
This study aimed to compare the efficacies and safety of enhanced and standard monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) in eyes with early glaucoma. Patients with concurrent cataracts and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) were enrolled. They underwent cataract surgery with IOL implantation. The comprehensive preoperative ophthalmic examination included the manifest refraction; monocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA); visual field (VF); and contrast sensitivity (CS); defocus curves and questionnaires were assessed three months postoperatively. Totals of 34 and 38 patients had enhanced and standard monofocal IOLs, respectively. The enhanced monofocal IOL provided better UIVA than the standard monofocal IOL (p = 0.003) but similar UDVA, CDVA, and UNVA. The enhanced monofocal IOL had more consistent defocus curves than the standard monofocal IOL, especially at −1 (p = 0.042) and −1.5 (p = 0.026) diopters. The enhanced monofocal IOL provided better satisfaction (p = 0.019) and lower spectacle dependence (p = 0.004) than the standard monofocal IOL for intermediate vision, with similar VF and CS outcomes. In conclusion, enhanced monofocal IOLs are recommended for patients with OAG because they provide better intermediate vision, higher satisfaction, and lower dependence on spectacles than standard monofocal IOLs, without worsening other visual outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2714 KiB  
Article
Agreement between Five Experts and the Laguna ONhE Automatic Colourimetric Application Interpreting the Glaucomatous Aspect of the Optic Nerve
by Carmen Mendez-Hernandez, Esperanza Gutierrez-Diaz, Marta Pazos, Rafael Gimenez-Gomez and Maria Dolores Pinazo-Duran
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(17), 5485; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12175485 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 742
Abstract
Background: Optic nerve head (ONH) interpretation is a glaucoma screening method which may be influenced by criteria variability. Laguna ONhE software is a low-cost and non-invasive method of ONH analysis. Methods: We analysed the results of the Laguna ONhE application, interpreting 552 ONH [...] Read more.
Background: Optic nerve head (ONH) interpretation is a glaucoma screening method which may be influenced by criteria variability. Laguna ONhE software is a low-cost and non-invasive method of ONH analysis. Methods: We analysed the results of the Laguna ONhE application, interpreting 552 ONH images from the ACRIMA database, publicly available on the Internet, and compared them with the opinion of five experts. Diagnostic agreement was investigated using Cohen’s kappa (κ) with 95% confidence. Results: The kappa concordance index obtained with Laguna ONhE and the majority of the experts’ criterion (0.77) was significantly higher compared to that obtained with ACRIMA and the majority of the experts’ criterion (0.61). In 44.7% of the cases there was absolute agreement among the 5 experts and the Laguna ONhE program. Removing borderline cases from the analysis yielded increased diagnostic agreement (0.81). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of the Laguna ONhE program (0.953, p < 0.001) was not significantly different than AUROC of the majority of the experts’ criterion (0.925, p < 0.001), p = 0.052. Individually obtained expert’s AUROCs were significantly lower (0.636 to 0.913; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Laguna ONhE’s agreement with the experts is high, particularly where the diagnosis may be more obvious by the appearance of the ONH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 998 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Inter-Eye Asymmetries in Corneal Hysteresis and Visual Field Severity in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
by Tadamichi Akagi, Yukiho Kato-Takano, Daiki Miyamoto, Yuta Sakaue, Ryoko Igarashi, Ryu Iikawa, Mao Arimatsu, Makoto Miyajima, Tetsuya Togano and Takeo Fukuchi
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(13), 4514; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12134514 - 6 Jul 2023
Viewed by 683
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of asymmetric corneal hysteresis (CH) on asymmetric visual field impairment between right and left eyes in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) without a history of intraocular surgery. CH, corneal resistance factor (CRF), and corneal compensated intraocular pressure [...] Read more.
This study investigated the influence of asymmetric corneal hysteresis (CH) on asymmetric visual field impairment between right and left eyes in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) without a history of intraocular surgery. CH, corneal resistance factor (CRF), and corneal compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) were measured using the Ocular Response Analyzer. Differences between the eyes (right eye–left eye: DIFRL) and CH-based and in target parameters (higher CH eye–lower CH eye: DIFCH) were calculated in the same patient. In 242 phakic eyes of 121 patients, older age (p < 0.001), lower CH (p = 0.001), and lower CRF (p = 0.007) were significantly associated with worse standard automated perimetry (SAP) 24-2 mean deviation (MD). The DIFsRL in axial length (p = 0.003), IOPcc (p = 0.028), and CH (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with the DIFRL in SAP24-2 MD, but not in central corneal thickness (CCT), Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) measurement, and CRF. When dividing the patients into two groups based on the median of the CH DIFsCH (0.46), the DIFsCH in CRF (p < 0.001), IOPcc (p < 0.001), CCT (p = 0.004), SAP24-2 MD (p < 0.001), and SAP10-2 MD (p = 0.010) were significantly different between the groups. Large inter-eye asymmetry in CH is an important explanatory factor for disease worsening in patients with POAG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 912 KiB  
Article
Association between Glaucoma Progression in Macular Ganglion Cell Complex and Disc Hemorrhage: Differences between Superior and Inferior Hemiretinas
by Gaku Tachibana, Tomomi Higashide, Koji Nitta and Kazuhisa Sugiyama
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(12), 3996; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12123996 - 12 Jun 2023
Viewed by 773
Abstract
Disc hemorrhage (DH) is often associated with glaucoma progression. A vertically asymmetrical pattern is typical of glaucoma progression, but it remains unclear whether the association between DH and glaucoma progression differs between the superior and inferior hemiretinas. We compared the thickness changes of [...] Read more.
Disc hemorrhage (DH) is often associated with glaucoma progression. A vertically asymmetrical pattern is typical of glaucoma progression, but it remains unclear whether the association between DH and glaucoma progression differs between the superior and inferior hemiretinas. We compared the thickness changes of the macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) in the hemiretinas of normal-tension glaucoma patients with or without DH, as well as between hemiretinas positive and negative for DH, during five years. Both the superior and inferior hemiretinas in the DH-positive group had a more negative GCC thickness slope in association with more DH counts compared to those in the DH-negative group. Conversely, only the inferior hemiretina exhibited a significant relationship between GCC thickness slope and DH counts when hemiretinas positive and negative for DH in the DH-positive group were compared. In the superior hemifield, the slope of the total deviation changes in the DH-positive hemifield of the DH-positive group was more negative compared to that of the DH-negative group. The association between DH and glaucoma progression in the macular GCC may be stronger in the inferior hemiretina, suggesting that more attention should be paid to DH in the inferior disc area as a sign of glaucoma progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 1243 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hypercholesterolemia, Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus on Peripapillary and Macular Vessel Density on Superficial Vascular Plexus in Glaucoma
by María Sanz Gomez, Ni Zeng, Gloria Estefania Catagna Catagna, Paula Arribas-Pardo, Julian Garcia-Feijoo and Carmen Mendez-Hernandez
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(5), 2071; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12052071 - 6 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1307
Abstract
Background/Aims: Vascular factors are involved in the development of glaucoma, including diseases such as hypercholesterolemia (HC), systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), and diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of glaucoma disease on peripapillary vessel density (sPVD) and [...] Read more.
Background/Aims: Vascular factors are involved in the development of glaucoma, including diseases such as hypercholesterolemia (HC), systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), and diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of glaucoma disease on peripapillary vessel density (sPVD) and macular vessel density (sMVD) on the superficial vascular plexus, controlling differences on comorbidities such as SAH, DM and HC between glaucoma patients and normal subjects. Methods: In this prospective, unicenter, observational cross-sectional study, sPVD and sMVD were measured in 155 glaucoma patients and 162 normal subjects. Differences between normal subjects and glaucoma patients’ groups were analyzed. A linear regression model with 95% confidence and 80% statistical power was performed. Results: Parameters with greater effect on sPVD were glaucoma diagnosis, gender, pseudophakia and DM. Glaucoma patients had a sPVD 1.2% lower than healthy subjects (Beta slope 1.228; 95%CI 0.798–1.659, p < 0.0001). Women presented 1.19% more sPVD than men (Beta slope 1.190; 95%CI 0.750–1.631, p < 0.0001), and phakic patients presented 1.7% more sPVD than men (Beta slope 1.795; 95%CI 1.311–2.280, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, DM patients had 0.9% lower sPVD than non-diabetic patients (Beta slope 0.925; 95%CI 0.293–1.558, p = 0.004). SAH and HC did not affect most of the sPVD parameters. Patients with SAH and HC showed 1.5% lower sMVD in the outer circle than subjects without those comorbidities (Beta slope 1.513; 95%CI 0.216–2.858, p = 0.021 and 1.549; 95%CI 0.240–2.858, p = 0.022 respectively. Conclusions: Glaucoma diagnosis, previous cataract surgery, age and gender seem to have greater influence than the presence of SAH, DM and HC on sPVD and sMVD, particularly sPVD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
Changes in Anterior Chamber Angle and Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma after Phaco-Goniosynechialysis
by Surong Luo, Guomei Yuan, Chenwei Zhao, Jiang Shen, Li Zhang, Man Luo and Wei Chen
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(2), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12020406 - 4 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1118
Abstract
We aimed to observe changes in angle width and choroidal thickness (CT) before and after phacoemulsification intraocular lens implantation (PEI) combined with goniosynechialysis (GSL) in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) complicated by cataracts. This prospective cohort study included 60 patients with PACG [...] Read more.
We aimed to observe changes in angle width and choroidal thickness (CT) before and after phacoemulsification intraocular lens implantation (PEI) combined with goniosynechialysis (GSL) in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) complicated by cataracts. This prospective cohort study included 60 patients with PACG complicated by cataracts from the Department of Ophthalmology of Shaoxing People’s Hospital, China. Patients underwent PEI combined with GSL (PEI-GSL group) or laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) followed by PEI (PEI group). Intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial counts were significantly decreased in both groups after surgery, while best-corrected visual acuity and central anterior chamber depth were significantly increased. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The opening degrees of room corners at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock were recorded as AA12, AA3, AA6, and AA9, respectively. Anterior chamber depth was significantly increased postoperatively compared to preoperatively in both groups, with no significant between-group differences (all ps > 0.05). At 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively, the width at AA12, AA3, and AA9 points was higher in the PEI-GSL group than in the PEI group (all ps < 0.05). Significant between-group differences at AA6 were observed preoperatively (p = 0.023) and at 1 (p = 0.027) and 3 (p = 0.033) months postoperatively but not at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.055). CT was smaller postoperatively than preoperatively (all ps < 0.001). The present study suggests that patients with PACG who underwent PEI with or without GSL had reduced IOP and CT after surgery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
11 pages, 1786 KiB  
Article
Glaucoma Incidence and Progression in Diabetics: The Canary Islands Study Using the Laguna ONhE Application
by Marta Gonzalez-Hernandez, Daniel Gonzalez-Hernandez, Nisamar Betancor-Caro, Isabel Guedes-Guedes, Morten Kirk Guldager and Manuel Gonzalez de la Rosa
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(24), 7294; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11247294 - 8 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 944
Abstract
Background: Laguna ONhE provides a globin distribution function (GDF), in which a glaucoma discriminator based on deep learning plays an important role, and there is also an optimized globin individual pointer (GIP) for progression analysis. Methods: Signs of optic nerve glaucoma were identified [...] Read more.
Background: Laguna ONhE provides a globin distribution function (GDF), in which a glaucoma discriminator based on deep learning plays an important role, and there is also an optimized globin individual pointer (GIP) for progression analysis. Methods: Signs of optic nerve glaucoma were identified in 1,124,885 fundus images from 203,115 diabetics obtained over 15 years and 117,813 control images. Results: A total of 743,696 images from 313,040 eyes of 173,661 diabetics were analysed. Some exclusions occurred due to excessive illumination, poor quality, or the absence of optic discs. Suspicion of glaucoma was reported in 6.70%, for an intended specificity of 99% (GDF < −15). More signs of glaucoma occur in diabetics as their years of disease increase, and after age 60, compared to controls. The GIP detected progression (p < 0.01) in 2.59% of cases with 4 controls and in 42.6% with 14 controls was higher in cases with lower GDF values. The GDF was corrected for the disc area and proved to be independent of it (r = 0.001925; p = 0.2814). Conclusions: The GDF index suggests a higher and increasing glaucoma probability in diabetics over time. Doubling the number of check-ups from four to eight increases the ability to detect GIP index progression by a factor of 5. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

0 pages, 2478 KiB  
Article
Impact of Systemic Comorbidities on Ocular Hypertension and Open-Angle Glaucoma, in a Population from Spain and Portugal
by Carolina Garcia-Villanueva, Elena Milla, José M. Bolarin, José J. García-Medina, Javier Cruz-Espinosa, Javier Benítez-del-Castillo, José Salgado-Borges, Francisco J. Hernández-Martínez, Elena Bendala-Tufanisco, Irene Andrés-Blasco, Alex Gallego-Martinez, Vicente C. Zanón-Moreno and María Dolores Pinazo-Durán
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(19), 5649; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11195649 - 25 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2743
Abstract
Open-angle glaucoma (OAG), the most prevalent clinical type of glaucoma, is still the main cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. OAG is a neurodegenerative illness for which the most important risk factor is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Many questions remain unanswered about OAG, such [...] Read more.
Open-angle glaucoma (OAG), the most prevalent clinical type of glaucoma, is still the main cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. OAG is a neurodegenerative illness for which the most important risk factor is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Many questions remain unanswered about OAG, such as whether nutritional or toxic habits, other personal characteristics, and/or systemic diseases influence the course of glaucoma. As such, in this study, we performed a multicenter analytical, observational, case–control study of 412 participants of both sexes, aged 40–80 years, that were classified as having ocular hypertension (OHT) or OAG. Our primary endpoint was to investigate the relationship between specific lifestyle habits; anthropometric and endocrine–metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory events; and commonly used psychochemicals, with the presence of OHT or OAG in an ophthalmologic population from Spain and Portugal. Demographic, epidemiological, and ocular/systemic clinical data were recorded from all participants. Data were analyzed using the R Statistics v4.1.2 and RStudio v2021.09.1 programs. The mean age was 62 ± 15 years, with 67–80 years old comprising the largest subgroup sample of participants in both study groups. The central corneal thickness (ultrasound pachymetry)-adjusted IOP (Goldman tonometry) in each eye was 20.46 ± 2.35 and 20.1 ± 2.73 mmHg for the OHT individuals, and 15.8 ± 3.83 and 16.94 ± 3.86 mmHg for the OAG patients, with significant differences between groups (both p = 0.001). The highest prevalence of the surveyed characteristics in both groups was for overweight/obesity and daily coffee consumption, followed by psychochemical drug intake, migraine, and peripheral vasospasm. Our data show that overweight/obesity, migraine, asthma, and smoking are major risk factors for conversion from OHT to OAG in this Spanish and Portuguese population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

16 pages, 831 KiB  
Review
Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle?
by Maria Laura Passaro, Francesco Matarazzo, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Antonio Pezone, Antonio Porcellini, Fausto Tranfa, Michele Rinaldi and Ciro Costagliola
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(21), 6900; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12216900 - 2 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1422
Abstract
Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the visual system which can result in vision loss and blindness. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glaucomatous optic neuropathy are ultimately enigmatic, prompting ongoing investigations into its potential shared pathogenesis with other neurodegenerative neurological disorders. Tauopathies represent [...] Read more.
Glaucoma is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting the visual system which can result in vision loss and blindness. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying glaucomatous optic neuropathy are ultimately enigmatic, prompting ongoing investigations into its potential shared pathogenesis with other neurodegenerative neurological disorders. Tauopathies represent a subclass of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the abnormal deposition of tau protein within the brain and consequent microtubule destabilization. The extended spectrum of tauopathies includes conditions such as frontotemporal dementias, progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Notably, recent decades have witnessed emerging documentation of tau inclusion among glaucoma patients, providing substantiation that this ocular disease may similarly manifest features of tauopathies. These studies found that: (i) aggregated tau inclusions are present in the somatodendritic compartment of RGCs in glaucoma patients; (ii) the etiology of the disease may affect tau splicing, phosphorylation, oligomerization, and subcellular localization; and (iii) short interfering RNA against tau, administered intraocularly, significantly decreased retinal tau accumulation and enhanced RGC somas and axon survival, demonstrating a crucial role for tau modifications in ocular hypertension-induced neuronal injury. Here, we examine the most recent evidence surrounding the interplay between tau protein dysregulation and glaucomatous neurodegeneration. We explore the novel perspective of glaucoma as a tau-associated disorder and open avenues for cross-disciplinary collaboration and new treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 168 KiB  
Reply
Reply to Wostyn, P. Targeting the Cerebrospinal Fluid Compartment in Glaucoma: Still the Dark Side of the Moon? Comment on “Passaro et al. Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 6900”
by Maria Laura Passaro, Francesco Matarazzo, Gianmarco Abbadessa, Antonio Pezone, Antonio Porcellini, Fausto Tranfa, Michele Rinaldi and Ciro Costagliola
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(5), 1332; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13051332 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 359
Abstract
We are grateful to the author of the comment [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
3 pages, 179 KiB  
Comment
Targeting the Cerebrospinal Fluid Compartment in Glaucoma: Still the Dark Side of the Moon? Comment on Passaro et al. Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 6900
by Peter Wostyn
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(3), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13030827 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 412
Abstract
I read with great interest the article by Passaro et al [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Glaucoma)
Back to TopTop