New Molecular Targets and Therapeutic Approaches for Glaucoma and Its Consequences

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, especially in age-related eye diseases. It is a group of degenerative diseases of the optic nerve characterized by malfunction of the aqueous humor drainage system, which leads, as a consequence, to the depletion of retinal ganglion cells and thus to retinal neurodegeneration. There are two main types of glaucoma: primary open-angle glaucoma, which can be hypertensive or normotensive, and closed-angle glaucoma. Therapeutic approaches are numerous and all aim to decrease intraocular pressure; unfortunately, they are not fully effective for all patients, so new molecular targets or therapies are needed.
Today, most drug therapies for eye diseases, such as glaucoma and/or its consequences, aim to delay disease progression but are not totally resolving. Therefore, better understanding the genetics of this disease or finding new drug targets assumes great importance, not only to improve the quality of life of affected patients but also to prevent the 'occurrence of hereditary eye diseases.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to collect research articles or reviews concerning the discovery of new molecular or genetic targets and new therapeutic approaches for glaucoma and its consequences, such as neurodegeneration.

Keywords: glaucoma, ocular diseases, ocular hypertension, retinopathy, ocular impairment, retinal protection

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