Retinal Ganglion Cell Diversity in Disease: Clinical Implications and Type-Specific Evaluation

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are diverse. Various types play specialized roles in vision, and they may be differentially susceptible in optic nerve disease where their death causes vision loss. RGCs are accordingly compelling targets for novel therapeutic strategies, and so it is clinically imperative to be able to evaluate different types individually in the human eye. This is complex and represents an unmet need for both basic and clinical research. We explore this need, survey emerging approaches, and consider their translational potential.

We conducted focused searches of online databases (PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar) using relevant search terms for articles published until January 2025, screened abstracts for relevant publications, and citation searched discovered literature.

Many approaches exist to classify human RGCs into types. Evidence suggests that some types are differentially susceptible to ocular disease, but these patterns are not firmly understood. Methods are emerging to evaluate individual RGC types in the human retina, alongside novel, potentially sight-restoring therapies that will depend on these insights for their full realization.

An integrated classification of RGC types, and refinement of methods to assess their status in the human eye, is clinically vital. Uncovering their roles can inform our understanding of disease biology, nominate biomarkers, and assist the development of therapies that protect, repair, or replace RGCs. The ongoing development of these techniques is imperative to the success of novel therapies for ocular disease.