Other research focuses on understanding the functions of the glaucoma genes and the proteins they produce. For example, some researchers are finding that the protein product of a gene associated with adult onset primary open-angle glaucoma contributes to the disease by stopping up the eye's drainage system. Researchers are testing a number of drugs to see if they can block the clogging molecule. Eye drops with a compound that reduces inflammation and pain during surgery appear to be promising. Cell studies show that the drug can interrupt the production of the clogging protein.
Plans now are underway to test the effectiveness of the drops in humans.
Other scientists are conducting cell studies in order to determine methods to directly replace the glaucoma genes with healthy genes. The hope is that the technique, known as gene therapy, would offer glaucoma patients long-term or permanent relief. On another front, researchers are uncovering the roles that normal genes play in orchestrating the cell death step of glaucoma. For example, scientists found that limiting the activity of the gene p53 can reduce eye cell death in animal models. They also found that completely removing the gene does not change the rate of cell death.