Glaucomas: Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

Abstract

The identity of the material proteins responsible for PXF glaucoma is not known [1]. However, genetic risk factors for the development of PXF material and PXF glaucoma have recently been identified [2]. Single -nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) gene are associated with PXF glaucoma in many patient populations, including Scandinavian, Japanese, Australian, and American cohorts [2-9]. LOXL1 is an enzymatic protein important in extracellular matrix metabolism and turnover. Thus, changes in the extracellular matrix of PXF tissues have been hypothesized to be the pathophysiological mechanism responsible for the development of PXF glaucoma [1, 10]. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.