Research to Prevent Blindness

Researchers Identify Biomarker for Glaucoma Damage

Today, RPB-supported researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis published a study identifying a biomarker that could help to predict glaucoma damage before vision loss.

An optic nerve with glaucoma damage, signified by loss of color and a round rim of pink tissue within the nerve.

Photo credit: CARLA J. SIEGFRIED / Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

"There hasn't been a reliable way to predict which patients with glaucoma have a high risk of rapid vision loss," said principal investigator Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

"But we've identified a biomarker that seems to correlate with disease severity in patients, and what that marker is measuring is stress to the cells rather than cell death. Other glaucoma tests are measuring cell death, which is not reversible, but if we can identify when cells are under stress, then there's the potential to save those cells to preserve vision," said Dr. Apte.

Read the full news item here

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May 4, 2017

Feature Story

Glaucoma

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