Smith C A, Vianna J R, Chauhan B C
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Retina and Optic Nerve Research Laboratory, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Eye (Lond). 2017 Feb;31(2):209-217. doi: 10.1038/eye.2016.295. Epub 2017 Jan 13.
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss is the hallmark of optic neuropathies, including glaucoma, where damage to RGC axons occurs at the level of the optic nerve head. In experimental glaucoma, damage is assessed at the axon level (in the retinal nerve fibre layer and optic nerve head) or at the soma level (in the retina). In clinical glaucoma where measurements are generally limited to non-invasive techniques, structural measurements of the retinal nerve fibre layer and optic nerve head, or functional measurements with perimetry provide surrogate estimates of RGC integrity. These surrogate measurements, while clinically useful, are several levels removed from estimating actual RGC loss. Advances in imaging, labelling techniques, and transgenic medicine are making enormous strides in experimental glaucoma, providing knowledge on the pathophysiology of glaucoma, its progression and testing new therapeutic avenues. Advances are also being made in functional imaging of RGCs. Future efforts will now be directed towards translating these advances to clinical care.
视网膜神经节细胞（RGC）丢失是包括青光眼在内的视神经病变的标志，在青光眼中，RGC轴突在视神经乳头水平发生损伤。在实验性青光眼中，损伤在轴突水平（视网膜神经纤维层和视神经乳头）或胞体水平（视网膜）进行评估。在临床青光眼中，测量通常限于非侵入性技术，视网膜神经纤维层和视神经乳头的结构测量或视野检查的功能测量提供了RGC完整性的替代估计。这些替代测量虽然在临床上有用，但与估计实际RGC丢失相差几个层次。成像、标记技术和转基因医学的进展在实验性青光眼中取得了巨大进展，提供了关于青光眼病理生理学、其进展的知识并测试了新的治疗途径。RGC的功能成像也在取得进展。现在未来的努力将致力于将这些进展转化为临床护理。
