Retinal ganglion cell calcium dynamics in experimental optic neuropathy

Ganglion cells in the retina send a visual representation of the world to the brain. It is the death of these nerve cells that leads to vision loss or even blindness in optic neuropathies such as glaucoma. The prevalence of these conditions are increasing with the aging population making the detection, prevention and treatment of ganglion cell loss a priority for vision research and ophthalmology. There is evidence that the movement of calcium ions into ganglion cells is part of the sequence of events that leads to the death of retinal ganglion cells. This research is aimed at understanding the specific mechanisms that produce elevation of calcium inside retinal ganglion cells and to determine if interference with such pathways might protect these cells and, therefore, form the foundation for future therapeutic approaches.