Human glaucoma and neural degeneration in intracranial optic nerve, lateral geniculate nucleus, and visual cortex

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 90; no. 6; pp. 674 - 678
• Main Authors: Gupta, N, Ang, L-C, de Tilly, L Noël, Bidaisee, L, Yücel, Y H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-06-2006; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Brain - pathology; Clinical Science - Scientific Report; Family medical history; Female; Geniculate Bodies - pathology; GHT; Glaucoma; Glaucoma and intraocular pressure; glaucoma hemifield test; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - complications; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - pathology; H&E/LFB; haematoxylin and eosin/luxol fast blue; human glaucoma; Humans; intraocular pressure; IOP; lateral geniculate nucleus; LGN; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; mean deviation; Medical sciences; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; MRI; Nervous system; Neurodegenerative Diseases - etiology; Neurodegenerative Diseases - pathology; Neurons; Neurons, Afferent - pathology; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Ophthalmology; Optic nerve; Optic Nerve - pathology; Optic Nerve Diseases - etiology; Pathology; pattern standard deviation; PSD; retinal ganglion cell; RGC; Studies; visual cortex; Visual Cortex - pathology; visual field; Visual Fields; Glaucoma; Human; Protozoa; Intracranial; Eye disease; Visual cortex; Optic nerve; Glaucoma (eye); Ciliata; Degeneration; Ophthalmology
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2005.086769

The pathology of glaucoma has been extensively studied at the level of the retina and optic nerve head. Here the first clinicopathological case of human glaucoma is reported demonstrating degenerative changes in the brain involving the intracranial optic nerve, lateral geniculate nucleus, and visual cortex. Pathological evidence of neural degeneration in this patient is correlated with clinical, optic nerve head, visual field, and neuroradiology findings. Neuropathology in the glaucoma brain is compared to age matched controls. In the presence of advanced human glaucoma with 50% visual field loss, neural damage is evident in multiple vision stations within the brain.