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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
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In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma
Published on: May 11, 2015
Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma: Microstructural Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence Within and Beyond the Visual
Daniel Zhang1, Eryn Kwon2,3, Helen V Danesh-Meyer1,2,4
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Glaucoma causes brain changes in visual regions, affecting gray matter and white matter microstructure. These changes correlate with retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer thinning, but not intraocular pressure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
- Understanding glaucoma's impact on the brain is crucial for comprehensive management.
- Multimodal MRI offers insights into structural and microstructural brain changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate brain structural and microstructural changes in glaucoma.
- Examine associations with glaucoma diagnosis, RNFL thickness, GCL thickness, and IOP.
- Utilize multimodal MRI across visual brain regions.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 1465 glaucoma cases and 14,650 controls from UK Biobank.
- Employed T1-weighted structural, DTI, and NODDI MRI sequences.
- Used regression models adjusted for covariates and FDR correction.
Main Results:
- Glaucoma linked to reduced gray matter in primary visual areas (LGN, optic chiasm, etc.).
- Abnormalities found in posterior thalamic radiation (DTI/NODDI) and white matter tracts.
- Correlations observed between RNFL/GCL thickness and primary visual regions, but not IOP.
Conclusions:
- Glaucoma involves brain changes extending to primary, secondary, and higher-order visual regions.
- Brain alterations correlate with RNFL and GCL thinning, suggesting trans-synaptic degeneration.
- IOP is not significantly associated with these observed brain changes.
