Purpose To evaluate differences in the pattern of optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) damage in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and high-tension glaucoma (HTG) patients. Methods We enrolled 49 eyes of 49 patients:30 NTG (IOP≤21 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), 19 HTG(IOP≥25 mm Hg). Mean age was 59.2±12.3 (range, 36-75) for HTG patients, and 59.6±8.6(range, 39-71) for NTG patients. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, achromatic automated perimetry (AAP), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), scanning laser polarimetry (SLP), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT). All patients had glaucomatous optic nerve damage and abnormal AAP. Results There were no differences in mean deviation on AAP between NTG and HTG eyes (P=0.37), while the corrected pattern standard deviation was larger in NTG than in HTG eyes (P=0.014). Cup∶disc area ratios in global (P=0.03) and three sectors (Plt;0.05) except nasal sector were significantly larger in the NTG group, whereas rim area in global (P=0.03) and three sectors (Plt;0.05) except nasal quadrant obtained by SLO were smaller in NTG than in HTG eyes. The other numerical parameters obtained by three imaging technologies could not detect differences in the optic disc or RNFL anatomy between the two groups. Conclusions Cup∶disc area ratio was larger in patients with NTG than in those with HTG, whereas significant thinning of rim was associated with NTG eyes. The measurement of retinal nerve layer thickness in global and each quadrant was similar between two groups. More focal or segmental analysis of the data contained within SLO, SLP and OCT images are needed to detect localized differences in eyes with varying levels of IOP. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 109-112)
The optic nerve belongs to the central nervous system (CNS). Because of the lack of neurotrophic factors in the microenvironment of the CNS and the presence of myelin and glial scar-related inhibitory molecules, and the inherent low renewal potentials of CNS neurons comparing to the peripheral nerve system, it is difficult to spontaneously regenerate the optic nerve after injury. Protecting damaged retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), supplementing neurotrophic factor, antagonizing axon regeneration inhibitory factor, and regulating the inherent regeneration potential of RGCs can effectively promote the regeneration and repair of optic nerve. Basic research has made important progress, including the restoration of visual function, but there are still a lot of unsolved problems in clinical translation of these achievements, so far there is no ideal method of treatment of optic nerve injury. Therefore, it is rather urgent to strengthen the cooperation between basic and clinical research, to promote the transformation of basic research to the clinical applications as soon as possible, which will change the unsatisfactory clinical application status.
Objective To culture astrocytes of human optic nerve and establish the cell lines for further study of healing process after optic nerve trauma. Methods Astrocytes of infantile optic nerve were cultured by tissue inoculation or tissue digestion with 0.25 % trypsin and 0.06% EDTA. The second and fourth passage cells were stained with HE and anti-GFAP, S-100 protein, vimentin, and CD34 antibodies. Results The trypsinized astrocytes of infantile optic nerver eached confluence in 7 days. The cultured cells were in polygonal shape with processes and the cytoplasm was abundant. These cells were positive in GFAP, S-100 protein and vimentin staining, and negative in CD34 staining. Conclusions Astrocytes of human optic nerve can be successfully cultured by trypsinization rather than tissue inoculation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:144-146)