Role of Ocular Pathology in Understanding Glaucoma.

Background: The study of ophthalmic pathology plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases. Ophthalmic pathology, as a discipline, plays many roles in patient care, including diagnosing diseases, interpreting the significance of clinical findings, and guiding patient management. It also plays a critical role in research by elucidating disease mechanisms, such as those underlying glaucoma, the world's second-leading cause of blindness. It contributes to the development of new or modified therapeutic approaches in glaucoma. Summary: This paper highlights the crucial role of pathology in understanding the pathophysiology of normal-tension glaucoma and childhood glaucoma. It also reviews the use of pathologic specimens to elucidate the mechanisms of bleb complications after trabeculectomy and failure of glaucoma shunts. Key Messages: Studying pathologic changes in ocular tissues remains crucial in understanding glaucoma and can lead to changes in clinical practice, ultimately improving patient care. Correlation of pathological findings in ocular tissues with gene expression and proteomics is one approach to understanding the mechanisms leading to glaucoma. The findings from such an approach could potentially be applied in precision medicine-based therapy.