Rockville, Md. -- The proceedings from the second annual ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Research Institute conference, "Aqueous Humor Outflow: What Do We Know? Where Will It Lead Us?" were published today in the October issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS). The conference, held on April 28 and 29, 2006, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., brought together experts from within and outside the eye field to evaluate the current understanding of the aqueous outflow pathway; determine what the most important scientific questions are; and discuss how these questions can be answered in the future.
Conference attendees consisted of 31 researchers on aqueous outflow, eight scientists working outside the field but with expertise relevant to the subject, and 11 observers. Four general areas of outflow research were examined: Conventional Outflow: Cell Function in the Aqueous Humor Outflow Pathway; Conventional Outflow: Role of the Extracellular Matrix; Uveoscleral Outflow: The Other Pathway; and Normal vs. Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: What is the Cause of Elevated Pressure?
Many patients with glaucoma have high pressure within the eye due to the inability of the aqueous humor fluid to drain from the eye. Aqueous humor is produced within the eye and supplies nutrients to tissues in the front part of the eye. Aqueous humor exits the eye via two different pathways: through the trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm's canal or a pathway through the ciliary muscle and other downstream tissues. Understanding of the aqueous humor outflow pathways is imperative to understanding drainage problems in glaucoma.
"The goal of this conference was to identify the most important unanswered research questions within the area of aqueous humor outflow pathways. Because of this opportunity and the work of the investigators at the conference, new ideas for research were identified (summarized in the article). We believe over the next few years, new discoveries prompted by insights gained from the sharing of ideas will lead to a better understanding of the underlying cause of glaucoma. This should lead to novel approaches for controlling the high pressure in patients with glaucoma," said program co-chair and first author Mike Fautsch, PhD. The program's co-chair was Doug Johnson, MD.
The 2006 ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Research Institute conference was funded by The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research through a grant from Pfizer Ophthalmics.
Read this article online at http://www.iovs.org/cgi/content/full/47/10/4181.
IOVS is published by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). For more information, logon to www.IOVS.org.
ARVO is a membership organization of more than 11,500 eye and vision researchers from over 70 countries. Established in 1928, the Association encourages and assists its members and others in research, training, publication and dissemination of knowledge in vision and ophthalmology. ARVO's headquarters are located in Rockville, Md. For more information about ARVO, logon to www.arvo.org.
Journal
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science