Abstract :
Glaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, driven by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Conventional management strategies predominantly focus on reducing intraocular pressure (IOP); however, many patients continue to experience RGC degeneration despite effective IOP control. This underscores the need for neuroprotective approaches that directly preserve RGCs and optic nerve function. This review explores current pharmacological strategies, including brimonidine, neurotrophic factors, memantine, Ginkgo biloba extract, citicoline, nicotinamide, insulin, and resveratrol, all of which demonstrate neuroprotective potential in preclinical and early clinical studies. Furthermore, we discuss emerging technologies such as stem cell therapy, gene therapy, mitochondrial-targeted treatments, and nanotechnology-based systems that aim to prevent or reverse glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Together, these approaches highlight a shift toward comprehensive glaucoma management that goes beyond IOP control. Continued research and well-designed clinical trials are essential to translate these promising strategies into routine clinical practice and to improve long-term visual outcomes for patients with glaucoma.
Keyword :
Glaucoma, Neuroprotection, Gene therapy, Pharmacological strategies, Emerging technologies.