Non-penetrating surgical options could alter the glaucoma treatment paradigm, making the current gold standard of trabeculectomy one of several possibilities for treating the disease. Landmark studies, including the Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study and the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study, have shown that filtration surgery has one of the best rates of significant IOP reduction among surgical glaucoma treatments. In addition, certain glaucoma subsets, such as angle-closure glaucoma and secondary glaucoma, are most effectively treated with filtration surgery.

A team of scientists from Italy found that eye drops containing nerve growth factor seem to protect optic nerve and retinal nerve cells from the damage caused by glaucoma and even restored some sight loss. The study was conducted by Dr Stefano Bonini of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome Campus Bio-Medico and Alberto Sordi Foundation and published online on Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS.

Scientists from the Moorfields Eye Hospital have invented a technology, Motion Displacement Test that will reduce the time taken for the detection of glaucoma. The novel technology is designed to catch one of the first symptoms of glaucoma, that is, the ability of the patient to spot speedy movement. The test is taken on a computer. The patient is asked to look at a dot in the centre which is surrounded by a number of white lines with a grey background. They are required to click a mouse when they notice a white line moving. Failure in spotting such movement indicates that they suffer from glaucoma.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion on recommendation for approval to grant a marketing authorisation for Alcon Laboratories’ Azarga 10 mg/ml / 5 mg/ml Eye drops. The suspension will be a more effective treatment of elevated intraocular pressure for adult patients suffering from ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma who have not benefited much from mono-therapy.The drug is a fixed combination of Timolol and Brinzolamide. These compounds reduce the production of aqueous humor by inhibiting the conversion of CO2 to bicarbonate in the eye’s ciliary body, hence controlling IOP.

FDC Ltd. has received approval from the FDA for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution. Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution is a nonselective beta-blocking drug, used as a primary line of treatment for glaucoma.

According to a report in Archives of Ophthalmology, black patients have a higher risk of death from a cardiac disease if they suffer from high pressure in the eyes or have been diagnosed with glaucoma at some point. The study was conducted by Suh-Yuh Wu, M.A., of Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, and other colleagues, and focused mainly on black patients.

ScyFix has developed a device that treats eye diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, with electric currents. The clinical trials are currently underway in India and the U.S. The company hopes to be the first to introduce an FDA approved device designed to restore eyesight. Until now, the use of electricity to slow or even reverse the effects of eye diseases has never made it out of a laboratory, said Dr. Thomas Samuelson, a founding partner of Minnesota Eye Consultants.