Modern Trends of Using Animal Models for Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies that eventually cause blindness as a result of retinal ganglion cell loss and optic nerve damage. Increased Intraocular pressure is the major risk factor associated with the onset of glaucoma. Many patients are continuously suffering from glaucoma despite using several advanced intraocular pressure-reducing therapies. It is the primary cause of blindness and visual impairment globally. Despite advancements in treatment methods, there is still a need for a better understanding of its pathophysiology to understand the underlying disease mechanism completely. Although there has been extensive study on glaucoma, the pathophysiologic processes that cause glaucoma are not fully understood. Animal models are playing an important role in glaucoma research for a long time. Glaucoma research has been conducted using a wide range of animal models such as Monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, and other animals. Animal models enabled researchers to investigate the mechanism of disease and the discovery of novel treatments. The objectives of this review will provide details of different animal models used in glaucoma research and analyze the role these models have played in understanding the disease mechanism and the development of novel treatment methods. Despite, extensive research on Glaucoma, there is no optimal model for understanding it due to its complexity. The purpose of this review is to describe most animal models that have been produced and employed for the research of various forms of glaucoma, as well as the strengths and limitations associated with each model and some prospective criteria for developing an appropriate model.