title: The Role of Magnesium in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Glaucoma.
abstract: Glaucoma is characterized by chronic optic neuropathy resulting in progressive vision loss. Not only is glaucoma considered as a condition of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), but also other risk factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Vascular dysregulation in ocular blood flow and oxidative stress are currently suggested as important risk factors for glaucomatous retinal ganglion cell loss. New treatment modalities that improve ocular blood flow and reduce oxidative stress have been investigated in many studies. Magnesium (Mg) is thought to be one of the molecules that has a treatment potential in glaucoma. Mg has been shown to improve blood flow by modifying endothelial function via endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) pathways. Mg also exhibits neuroprotective role by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-related calcium influx and by inhibiting the release of glutamate, and hence protects the cell against oxidative stress and apoptosis. Both improvement in ocular blood flow and prevention of ganglion cell loss would make magnesium a good candidate for glaucoma management. Further studies on the effect of Mg may open a new therapeutic era in glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Medical School, 53020 Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: Feyzahan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3050-0714
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ekici
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Duzce State Hospital, 81100 Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şafak
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sorgun State Hospital, 66700 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine Esra
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7124-4174
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yatağan State Hospital, 48500 Muğla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sabahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sül
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Onsekizmart University Medical School, 17020 Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan Ali
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Tufan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gazi University Medical School, 06560 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bahri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Gazi University Medical School, 06560 Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ergin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dileköz