Retinal ganglion cell damage in human glaucoma

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 緑内障眼における網膜神経節細胞障害

Search this article

Abstract

The histopathologic structure of the retinal ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer were examined in three eyes of two patients with early glaucoma. Semithin Epon sections were used to estimate the number of ganglion cells, their density, and the distribution of their somal diameters for various regions of the retina. Marked thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer and retinal ganglion cell loss were seen to correspond to the area of clinically detected nerve fiber layer atrophy. The large ganglion cells were observed to be selectively decreased in number in this study. When compared to three normal eyes, the ganglion cells were decreased in number diffusely throughout the retina, and the ganglion cell loss was seen to markedly correspond to the area of clinically detected nerve fiber layer atrophy. In addition, one eye, which had no clinical dysfunction of the fovea, showed marked loss of ganglion cells in the fovea. These results suggest that the site of damage to ganglion cells is the optic nerve head and that the large ganglion cells are especially vulneraole to damage in glaucomatous eyes.

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top