AEVRs World Glaucoma Week Briefing Features Real-Time OCT Imaging
 Joel Schuman, M.D., F.A.C.S. speaks |
On March 9, AEVRs Decade of Vision 2010-2020 Initiative hosted a Congressional briefing entitled Glaucoma: Understanding Disease Progression on the latest research during World Glaucoma Week 2011. The first World Glaucoma Day was held on March 6, 2008, and the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 981, which recognized the event and supported the National Eye Institutes (NEI) efforts to research the causes of and treatments for glaucoma. Since 2010, the day has expanded into a week of events held worldwide, with all major glaucoma societies co-sponsoring AEVRs 2011 event (see listing below).
Glaucoma is a complex, neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye) that robs individuals of both peripheral and central vision. It is the second leading cause of preventable vision loss in the United States, affects all age groups, and disproportionately affects the African American and Hispanic populations. Since it often has no symptoms until vision loss occurs, NEI-funded researchers are studying the diseases progression, specifically how structural changes detected by advanced imaging techniques, such as Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), may correlate with vision changes.
Featured speaker Joel S. Schuman, M.D., F.A.C.S., a clinician-scientist continuously funded by NEI since 1995 who serves as Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Director of the Eye Center at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), initially described how the eye is mostly fluid and that increased intraocular pressure (IOP) from that fluid can damage the optic nerve and retinal tissue, especially if the trabecular meshwork or the drain of the eye is not working properly. Current treatments for increased IOP include medications to reduce eye pressure, as well as laser treatments and surgical procedures to open the drain, which were derived from NEI research. Current NEI-funded research is also focused on the genetic basis of glaucoma, to potentially develop gene therapy approaches to prevent it, as well as stem cell approaches to treat it.
Dr. Schuman emphasized that glaucoma damage is irreversible, so it is critical to detect glaucoma and its progression as early as possible. He stressed that structural changes in the optic nerve and RNFL may be predictive of glaucoma and how OCT is becoming increasing valuable as a means by which to measure these changes-in comparison to baseline images for an age group or population and in relation to a patients own previous images. OCT, which displays a three-dimensional, cross-sectional view of the retina and not just the superficial view of its surface provided by conventional imaging technologies, enables layers of the retina to be seen and analyzed with respect to structural changes associated with glaucoma and other blinding eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. To demonstrate that OCT is a non-invasive, high-speed technology, Carl Zeiss Meditecs Kevin Langton conducted real-time imaging of both of AEVR Executive Director James Jorkaskys eyes, the images of which were analyzed by Dr. Schuman.
OCT has been the most rapidly adopted technology in eye care, said Dr. Schuman, who stated that there are now about 30,000 units in use in the US and elsewhere, as compared to a dozen or so when he appeared in 2006 on ABCs Good Morning America to discuss the technology (a You-Tube video of which he displayed on a plasma screen via his iPhone). Although commercialized by industry, OCT imaging was initially developed with National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and its use today complements NEIs portfolio of research into the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. Dr. Schuman, who noted that he was a member of the team that invented OCT, is also a Professor of Bioengineering at UPMC and founded its Glaucoma Imaging Group, where researchers examine the structure-function relationship in glaucoma and other diseases of the eye through the use of various cutting-edge imaging technologies.
AEVR was joined by the following co-sponsors in hosting the briefing:
American Glaucoma Society (AGS)
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF)
Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS)
Prevent Blindness America (PBA)
The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF)
 Right: Carl Zeiss Meditecs Kevin Langton images AEVR Executive Director James Jorkaskys eyes using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) |
 Left to right: Michael Duenas, O.D. (American Optometric Association) with Kevin Langton |
 Left to right: Eve Zartman-Ball (The Vision Council) with briefing co-sponsor The Glaucoma Foundations Scott Christensen, who also leads the World Glaucoma Patient Association which founded World Glaucoma Day/Week |
 Left to right: Cathy Cohen (American Academy of Ophthalmology) with Dr. Schuman, who had just given the Clinician-Scientist Lecture the previous week at the annual meeting of the American Glaucoma Society, a briefing co-sponsor |