NITRATE THERAPY MAY RETARD GLAUCOMATOUS OPTIC NEUROPATHY, PERHAPS THROUGH MODULATION OF GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS

Nitrates have been a major part of the internist's pharmacopoeia for m ore than 100 years, predominantly for the relief of anginal symptoms. The effects of nitroglycerin on the eye and specifically on intraocula r pressure has been investigated with diverse results. However, nitrog lycerin may also serve to protect retinal ganglion cells against gluta mate mediated toxicity-a form of cell death that may be critical in gl aucomatous blindness. Consequently, we therefore sought to evaluate wh ether nitroglycerin preparations, taken for non-ophthalmic reasons, ha d an effect on glaucomatous damage. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.