Abstract: Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. Though the molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated, ample of studies evidenced that primary OAG correlates with the pathological changes of trabecular meshwork (TM) and distal pathways. This paper focus on the animal models that promote TM structural and functional changes. According to the anatomical structure, these animal models are divided into upstream (injection of exogenous substances into the anterior chamber), middle (laser photocoagulation, ultraviolet irradiation, dexamethasone treatment, benzalkonium chloride stimulation and injection of hypertonic saline into TM) and downstream (closure of episcleral veins, circumlimbal suture and constant light stimulation) obstructive models. The establishment methods, characteristics and underlying mechanisms of the animal models were reviewed aiming to provide strategy for the clinical and basic studies on OAG. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2023, 47: 11-17)

Key words: open-angle glaucoma, animal model/rodent