INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Glaucoma is a disease caused by pressure inside the eye that over time can lead to vision loss or blindness. Approximately 3 million people in the United States suffer from glaucoma. There is no cure, but researchers are working to develop new treatments that could improve the outlook for glaucoma patients.
In most cases of glaucoma, fluid buildup causes pressure inside the eye, which can affect the optic nerve at the back of the eye.
“So you basically lose your peripheral vision and you start seeing tunnel vision,” explains Dr. Tasneem Putiwala Sharma, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Treatments include medication and surgery, but they can only slow the progression, not stop or reverse it. Sharma and her team are hoping to change that.
“But the root cause is that these neurons are dying, so how do we protect them?” Sharma asked.
Her research focuses on two new approaches to treating glaucoma. First, she is testing drugs that protect neurons in the early stages of the disease. Second, she is using innovative technology to also explore options for later stages of the disease. In her research, she places donated human eyes into a unique model in the lab, which simulates intraocular pressure and allows her to test different treatments. One involves creating stem cells in the lab and transplanting them into the eye to see if they can replace neurons.
“If the condition is still progressing and the vision loss is quite advanced, then maybe we can intervene peripherally and say, 'This may be something that can help you and protect you in the long term,'” Sharma said.
The new research may bring new hope to people battling glaucoma. Sharma received a $2 million grant from the National Eye Institute to fund her research. She hopes her research will lead to new clinical trials for glaucoma patients.
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