Glaucoma is an, as yet, incurable disease that is the leading cause of blindness in Hong Kong.
Risk factors include age, family history and past eye trauma, as well as other conditions such as short-sightedness.
Additionally, it is not obviously recognisable, even by those affected by the condition.
One in 63 people are affected locally, with one of every seven of these patients becoming permanently blind.
According to the faculty, vision loss caused by glaucoma is irreversible by existing therapeutic means, but animal trials for this new treatment show that nearly 70 percent of vision lost could be regained, cementing this study’s findings as a breakthrough discovery.
“I think the success rate is quite high,” said Chu Wai-kit, associate professor in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences.
“We see quite consistent results in the experimental animals.”
The new treatment targets the growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor, also known as GHRHR.
Its corresponding hormone is known to cause cell oxidation, which accelerates cell death, leading to optic nerve degeneration and vision loss.
By inhibiting the GHRHR, the uptake of its corresponding hormone is reduced, leading to slower rates of cell oxidation and death, lowering the progression rate of glaucoma.
The treatment is currently in its early stages of development, with a timeline of 10 to 15 years before it becomes available for public use.
Chu stressed that treatment of this disease relies on early diagnosis, due to its lack of obvious warning signs and irreversible damage.
He recommends people visit an eye doctor for a full health check-up regularly.
