PMC:2792620 / 2144-4255 JSONTXT

{"target":"https://pubannotation.org/docs/sourcedb/PMC/sourceid/2792620","sourcedb":"PMC","sourceid":"2792620","source_url":"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/2792620","text":"Introduction\nGlaucoma is characterized by slow progressive degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the optic nerve axons, leading to increasing deterioration of the visual field. If untreated, the condition can lead to irreversible blindness.[1]\nGlaucoma represents a common pathway for different eye conditions, many of which are associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). The involvement of excitatory and inhibitory nerve transmitters like glutamates, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), glycine and apoptosis can be implicated as a mechanism of progression of glaucoma. Early detection and treatment can slow, or even halt the progression of the disease. However, glaucoma often progresses despite lowering of the IOP to acceptable or normal levels.[2]\n\nMagnitude\nGlaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. Worldwide, it is estimated that about 66.8 million people have visual impairment from glaucoma, with 6.7 million suffering from blindness. The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age. Two percent of the population older than 40 years of age and five to nine percent of those older than 65 years have glaucoma.[34] It is estimated that there will be 60.5 million people with OAG (open angle glaucoma) and ACG (angle closure glaucoma) in 2010, which will increase to 79.6 million by 2020. Of these, 74% will have OAG. From 2010 to 2020, the most detectable change in glaucoma worldwide will be an increase of the incidence of glaucoma in India. As the proportion of those over age 40 increases, the proportional increase in glaucoma will challenge our resources and ingenuity.[5]\n\nRisk factors for the development of glaucoma\nAlthough increased intraocular pressure is the major risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), other factors such as increased glutamate levels, alterations in nitric oxide (NO) metabolism, vascular alterations and oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species[6] are also involved [Table 1].\nTable 1 Risk factors for glaucoma IOP = Intraocular pressure, POAG = Primary open angle glaucoma and NTG = Normal tension glaucoma\n\nTy","divisions":[{"label":"Title","span":{"begin":0,"end":12}},{"label":"Section","span":{"begin":779,"end":1619}},{"label":"Title","span":{"begin":779,"end":788}},{"label":"Section","span":{"begin":1621,"end":2110}},{"label":"Title","span":{"begin":1621,"end":1665}},{"label":"Table caption","span":{"begin":1974,"end":2109}}],"tracks":[{"project":"2_test","denotations":[{"id":"20040958-17508040-47224433","span":{"begin":775,"end":776},"obj":"17508040"},{"id":"20040958-9381366-47224434","span":{"begin":1152,"end":1154},"obj":"9381366"},{"id":"20040958-16488940-47224435","span":{"begin":1617,"end":1618},"obj":"16488940"},{"id":"20040958-16413223-47224436","span":{"begin":1942,"end":1943},"obj":"16413223"},{"id":"T49000","span":{"begin":775,"end":776},"obj":"17508040"},{"id":"T65556","span":{"begin":1152,"end":1154},"obj":"9381366"},{"id":"T15368","span":{"begin":1617,"end":1618},"obj":"16488940"},{"id":"T93179","span":{"begin":1942,"end":1943},"obj":"16413223"}],"attributes":[{"subj":"20040958-17508040-47224433","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"20040958-9381366-47224434","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"20040958-16488940-47224435","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"20040958-16413223-47224436","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"T49000","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"T65556","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"T15368","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"},{"subj":"T93179","pred":"source","obj":"2_test"}]}],"config":{"attribute types":[{"pred":"source","value type":"selection","values":[{"id":"2_test","color":"#ec93c9","default":true}]}]}}