A new study on mice, published in the journal Aging Cell, shows that the chronic stress might eventually degrade vision as the stress wears off eye cells. Degradation of retinal ganglion cells in the eye are a significant risk factor for glaucoma. More than 100 million people are expected to be affected by glaucoma by the year 2040.
Epigenetic and transcriptional changes that are associated with aging in retinal tissue are promoted by elevated intraocular pressure. The study found that stress causes eye tissue to age faster. The result of the findings could lead to the ability to tune and sustain cell functions in glaucoma patients.
On a regular basis, the intraocular pressure in the eye varies between 12 and 21 mmHg in a healthy person. A single measurement of intraocular pressure is not enough to predict disease progression in glaucoma patients. There is a correlation between long-term intraocular pressure fluctuations and glaucoma progression.
According to the researchers, the impacts of small variations increase the aging of tissue and even little elevation in intraocular pressure can cause the loss of vision in elderly animals.
The process of accumulative aging changes is being explored by researchers. and various strategies are being explored to slow the aging process.