International Review of Ophthalmology

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The difference between age-related and glaucomatous changes in retinal ganglion cells and their axons

HUO Yan-jiao, GUO Yan   

  1. Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
  • Received:2017-01-13 Online:2017-04-22 Published:2017-04-20
  • Contact: HUO Yan-jiao, Email: huoyanjiao1104@163.com
  • Supported by:

    The Priming Scientific Research Foundation for the Junior Researcher in Beijing Tongren Hosptial, Capital Medical University (2015-YJJ-ZZL-011)

Abstract:

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons lost with a non-pathological way during aging. Age-related changes were characterized by the loss of RGCs’ dendrites, but the number of RGCs keeps stable. While glaucomatous changes  show overall and focal RGCs reduction. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can reflect the RGCs and their axons indirectly, which can differentiate between age-related and glaucomatous changes. Progressive OCT parameters change between 20-50 years indicated glaucoma injury because age-related changes have little effect on OCT parameters in this period. Age-related changes appear beyond 50 years when function related focal OCT parameters change indicated glaucoma progression. (Int Rev Ophthalmol,  2017,  41:    87-91)