Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2025
08:30
Glaucoma-inducing Procedure in an In Vivo Rat Model and Whole-mount Retina Preparation
Published on: March 12, 2016
13.1K
Impact of smoking on glaucoma
Golnoush Mahmoudinezhad1, Leo Meller, Sasan Moghimi
1Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
|November 29, 2023
Summary
Heavy smoking may worsen primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) progression. Long-term smoking cessation might offer protection against POAG progression, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Lifestyle factors, particularly smoking, are increasingly investigated for their role in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
- Smoking is a known contributor to other ocular diseases via ischemic and oxidative pathways.
- Understanding smoking's impact on POAG is crucial for clinical management and public health strategies.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationship between smoking and glaucoma.
- It examines smoking's influence on POAG pathogenesis, incidence, and progression.
- The potential benefits of smoking cessation for glaucoma patients are also evaluated.
Key Points:
- Evidence suggests a potential role for smoking, especially heavy smoking, in the progression of POAG.
- Smoking cessation may be associated with reduced glaucoma progression.
- A dose-response relationship between smoking and glaucoma requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Smoking may influence the progression of primary open-angle glaucoma.
- Long-term smoking cessation could be linked to slower glaucoma progression.
- Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to validate these findings and explore the therapeutic potential of smoking cessation.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
592
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
592
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
456
In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
456
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
515
Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
515
01:23Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants
1.3K
Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating...
1.3K
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
6.0K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
6.0K
01:29Stimulants
216
Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
216