Neuroprotection in neuro-ophthalmic disease

Neuroprotection is a set of therapeutic strategies for the prevention of neuronal death after injury. A wide variety of neuroophthalmic disorders are characterized by neuronal death, particularly disorders of the optic nerve. Optic neuropathies irrevocably result in the death of retinal ganglion cells, cells which are unable to divide. Therefore, their loss results in permanent loss of vision. Most optic neuropathies do not have viable treatments at present, and thus there has been great interest in using neuroprotective strategies for the treatments of such disorders. The following review discusses some facets of neuroprotection, particularly with respect to its potential role in treating disorders of the optic nerve.