Treatment of Glaucoma with Progenitor/Precursor Stem Cells: Current Approaches and Future Prospects

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy with multiple etiologies that involves the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, leading to permanent vision loss.Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a significant risk factor, yet glaucoma can also occur with IOP within the normal range.Despite current therapies-primarily aimed at IOP reduction-few treatments specifically address the cellular damage underlying the disease.The degeneration of the axons and retinal ganglion cells cannot be reversed, and the treatment becomes challenging when the disease is in its advanced stages.Therefore, new therapies with the potential to regenerate lost tissue and recover vision loss are urgently required.