docet

Key points

• Current glaucoma detection techniques have limitations; tonometry is not helpful in diagnosing low tension glaucoma and many ocular hypertensives do not develop glaucoma. Visual fields assessment will only reflect damage once 30-50% of retinal ganglion cells have been lost. Visual field test therefore represents a delay of up to ten years in detection of the underlying disease.
  
• Detection of apoptosing retinal cells (DARC) is a new technique that allows a clinician to identify individual dying retinal ganglion cells by selective attachment of a fluorescent marker which may be visualised.
  
• Currently the fluorescent dye is introduced intravenously but a topical application option is under development and predicted to be available in five years’ time.
  
• Retinal cell damage can mirror damage in higher central nervous system structures so the technique shows promise in monitoring the impact of treatment of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.