Open-Angle Glaucoma: Are There Symptoms?
Learn why open-angle glaucoma, often called the “silent thief of sight,” rarely causes symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
New Ways to Predict Progression and Treat Glaucoma
Currently approved treatments for glaucoma primarily focus on reducing eye pressure, referred to as elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
Numerous therapies exist to lower eye pressure effectively; however, the bulk of them (eyedrops and surgeries) require skill and consistency to achieve results.
Easier methods are needed, as well as new therapies to address other underlying causes of glaucoma beyond IOP.
Our researchers are advancing new techniques and strategies for nourishing, regenerating and transplanting retinal nerve cells. Advances in technology and imaging are helping to better monitor and control eye pressure, a key biomarker for glaucoma.
BrightFocus grantees are working to develop new drugs that will more effectively lower eye pressure and protect against nerve cell injury and death. They are also working on and genome editing approaches to restore the function of trabecular meshwork (a spongy tissue that drains fluids from the eye).
In addition, computerized algorithms are being designed to analyze an assortment of biometric data to better predict and track a patient’s risk of progression to vision loss.
Dive Deeper
Explore More of Our 360° Research Approach
Our 360° Research Approach
- New Knowledge About What Causes Glaucoma
- Controlling Eye Pressure in New Ways
- Imaging and Exploring the Eye-Brain Connection
- Protecting and Regenerating the Optic Nerve
New Knowledge About What Causes Glaucoma
New Knowledge About What Causes Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases united under one name. Ultimately, glaucoma threatens sight by damaging the optic nerve, at the back of the eye which carries light signals from the eye to the brain. However, our knowledge of how and when glaucoma damages nerve cells remains imprecise.
Controlling Eye Pressure in New Ways
Controlling Eye Pressure in New Ways
Elevated eye pressure, or intraocular pressure (IOP), is present in most forms of glaucoma. This can happen when the fluid that constantly bathes the front of the eye, called aqueous humor, gets clogged and backed up.
Imaging and Exploring the Eye-Brain Connection
Imaging and Exploring the Eye-Brain Connection
Eye changes associated with glaucoma contribute to tiny blind spots, known as “visual field defects,” which, if they worsen, might advance to vision loss and blindness. The chance of that, and the speed at which it happens, vary greatly from person to person.
Early diagnosis is key, and much progress has been made in imaging the eye to detect the tiniest changes that may precede glaucoma.
Protecting and Regenerating the Optic Nerve
Protecting and Regenerating the Optic Nerve
Unlike most cells in the body, which repair themselves, the nerve cells providing our vision do not regrow once damaged.
BrightFocus is supporting research into ways of protecting cells threatened by advancing glaucoma as well as regenerating those cells after vision loss.
