New Understanding How the Eye Works is Leading To Novel Approaches for Treating Glaucoma

When we rise out of bed in the morning, the pressure within our eyes changes massively - by 100-fold - and yet no damage is done. David Krizaj, Ph.D., Moran Eye Center investigator and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Utah, has discovered mechanisms that protect cells within the eyes from fluctuations in pressure, and has found that a drug that targets the so-called mechanosensor also blocks signs of glaucoma, a disease linked to high eye pressure and a leading cause of blindness. Krizaj explains how the work is leading to a new understanding of how the eye works, and how this knowledge could lead to a new therapy for the disease. Learn more about the research in Scientific Reports.