Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Emmanuel S Buys
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Ophthalmol
Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by visual field defects that ultimately leads to irreversible blindness. By
the year 2020, an estimated 80 million people will have glaucoma, 11 million of which will be bilaterally blind. Primary openangle
glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only risk factor
amenable to treatment. How IOP is regulated and can be modulated remains a topic of active investigation. Available therapies mostly
geared towards lowering IOP, offer incomplete protection, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches and drug targets.
Impairment of the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylatecyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway has been
associated with POAG and NO-donors are being developed as novel IOP-lowering agents. This presentation will discuss pre-clinical
and clinical studies, illustrating the connection between NO-cGMP signaling and POAG. In addition, pilot data will be presented
describing the IOP lowering and/or neuroprotective capabilities of available therapeutics known to increase cGMP signaling.
Emmanuel S Buys obtained his PhD from the Department of Molecular Biology, Gent University and Flanders Institute of Biotechnology. He is currently an Assistant
Professor in Anesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he studies the role of nitric oxide-cGMP signaling in cardiovascular disease and primary open angle
glaucoma. He has co-authored 52 manuscripts since 2006.