Show Notes
Are Neuroprotection and Neural Regeneration therapies coming of age? Professor Keith Martin, Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, shares how cutting-edge research in neuroprotection and neural regeneration could transform how we treat glaucoma.
Tracing his journey from his PhD work with Harry Quigley in Baltimore, through the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, to leading CERA in Melbourne, Keith explores breakthroughs that move beyond pressure control — targeting the health and recovery of retinal ganglion cells themselves.
Emerging approaches include:
Delivering neurotrophic growth factors to protect retinal ganglion cells Using Vitamin B3 to reduce oxidative stress Activating intrinsic growth pathways to regenerate optic nerve axons Transplanting stem-cell–derived retinal ganglion cells to restore lost vision
Keith also challenges long-standing practices in glaucoma care. Are clinicians wasting time and resources over-treating mild disease that may never threaten vision? And why are we still treating primary open-angle glaucoma as one condition, rather than defining the distinct phenotypes and providing personalised therapy?
The future, he argues, lies in combination therapy: pairing traditional IOP control with regenerative and neuroprotective treatments to stop — and potentially reverse — vision loss.
Bonus Content This month’s Bonus episode for subscribers includes insights into;
How OCT is reshaping glaucoma referrals in optometric practice AI models outperforming specialists in predicting visual field loss from disc OCT appearances Home monitoring for IOP and visual fields A promising new glaucoma device on the horizon One thing is clear: the future of glaucoma care goes far beyond just lowering the IOP. Get access to this Bonus episode, along with a host of CPD resources, when you subscribe for only £25 per year at https://eyesontomorrow.substack.com/subscribe Thanks to Topcon Healthcare and Thea UK for supporting Eyes on Tomorrow. Produced by Matt Hill at Rethink Audio.
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