# Glaucoma ## expand\_more ![HMS Ophthalmology Center of Excellence](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__100x100_scale/public/eye/files/shield_0.png?itok=EkJmwAOl) **Center of Excellence** ![New Image of Glaucoma](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/eye/files/untitled_design_33.png?itok=sAR9pUny) Sort***CO-DIRECTORS*** [David S. Friedman, MD, PhD, MPH](/davidfriedman) [Janey L. Wiggs, MD, PhD](/janeywiggs) ***MEMBERS*** [See a list of Glaucoma faculty](/faculty/glaucoma) The Glaucoma Center of Excellence was established with the explicit goal of shrinking the timeline in bringing sight-saving advances to our patients and people throughout the world. Glaucoma encompasses several conditions that cause optic neuropathy, or damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma affects an estimated 60 million people worldwide—making it the second-leading cause of blindness internationally, according to the World Health Organization. Although glaucoma is much more common in older adults, it can occur at any age. Glaucoma often develops slowly. It typically affects peripheral vision first, but symptoms may go unnoticed for several years because visual acuity is maintained until late in the disease. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common form of glaucoma. It is associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP), also known as ocular hypertension, which may in turn, lead to retinal ganglion cell death and optic neuropathy. Secondary glaucoma occurs as a complication of eye surgeries, injuries, infections, or other ophthalmic conditions. Glaucoma may even occur without increased IOP in normal tension glaucoma, and many kinds of glaucoma have strong genetic and/or environmental risk factors. ## Major Research Breakthroughs Research programs in glaucoma investigate risk factors for glaucoma, as well as methods for early disease detection and novel therapeutics. In the last 20 years, our investigators have: - Demonstrated the use of spectral domain and 3D swept-source optical coherence tomography to detect retinal nerve fiber layer thinning, which can occur before clinically detectable, irreversible vision loss in glaucoma - Identified structural remodeling of astrocytes as a potential new target for disease pathogenesis - Identified over 100 novel genetic risk factors for glaucoma and related ocular traits - Identified environmental risk factors for exfoliation glaucoma, including residence in northern latitudes - Identified subtypes of glaucoma based on machine learning of visual field defects and specific optic nerve features ## 2020 Vision: Promising Areas for Future Research Investigators aim to develop models for disease screening and risk prediction based on machine learning, fundus images, and genetic risk factors. The glaucoma team hopes to further elucidate the underlying molecular and environmental mechanisms of glaucoma. “Imagine if a patient with stable glaucoma only had to be seen once every one or two years,” says Co-Director David S. Friedman, MD, PhD, MPH. “As we learn more about the disease mechanisms, we’ll eventually be able to provide more precise treatment plans based on individualized risk assessments. And with the use of telemedicine, we will be able to monitor patients more closely than we do today to ensure that any early changes are detected and treated quickly.” ## Recent Glaucoma News - [3 ways artificial intelligence could fight eye disease](https://focus.masseyeandear.org/3-ways-that-artificial-intelligence-could-fight-eye-disease/) - [Researchers to build cell atlas of the human eye](https://focus.masseyeandear.org/researchers-to-build-cell-atlas-of-the-human-eye-as-part-of-international-collaboration/) - [Read more of our latest glaucoma news stories](https://prod-eye.drupalsites.harvard.edu/news?f%5B0%5D=hwp_c_category1%3A65326) ## Recent News [### Eyes On: Alessandro Jammal, MD, PhD ](/news/2026/04/eyes-alessandro-jammal-md-phd) April 06, 2026 [### Camras Award Recipient: Nazlee Zebardast, MD, MSc ](/news/2026/02/camras-award-recipient-nazlee-zebardast-md-msc) February 04, 2026 [### Genetic Glaucoma Risk Linked to Distinct Patterns of Vision Loss ](/news/2026/01/genetic-glaucoma-risk-linked-distinct-patterns-vision-loss) January 08, 2026 [### Glaucoma Specialist Dr. David S. Friedman Receives Esteemed Honor ](/news/glaucoma-specialist-dr-david-friedman-receives-esteemed-honor) March 20, 2020 ## Recent Publications Download 4 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=4&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters%5Bfield_hwp_c_researcharea%5D%5B0%5D%5Btarget_id%5D=36016&&&format=ris) ### 2024 Huang A, Hirabayashi K, Barna L, Parikh D, Pasquale L. [Assessment of a Large Language Model’s Responses to Questions and Cases About Glaucoma and Retina Management](/publications/assessment-large-language-models-responses-questions-and-cases-about-glaucoma-and). JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(4):371–375. PMID: 38386351 Huang A, Hirabayashi K, Barna L, Parikh D, Pasquale L. [Assessment of a Large Language Model’s Responses to Questions and Cases About Glaucoma and Retina Management](/publications/assessment-large-language-models-responses-questions-and-cases-about-glaucoma-and). JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(4):371–375. PMID: 38386351 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract IMPORTANCE: Large language models (LLMs) are revolutionizing medical diagnosis and treatment, offering unprecedented accuracy and ease surpassing conventional search engines. Their integration into medical assistance programs will become pivotal for... Sun J, Yuan M, Johnson G, Pasquale L, Boland M, Friedman D, Elze T, Shen L, Wang M. [Comparison of Structural and Functional Features in Primary Angle Closure and Open Angle Glaucomas](/publications/comparison-structural-and-functional-features-primary-angle-closure-and-open-angle). J Glaucoma. 2024;33(4):254–261. PMID: 38031290 Sun J, Yuan M, Johnson G, Pasquale L, Boland M, Friedman D, Elze T, Shen L, Wang M. [Comparison of Structural and Functional Features in Primary Angle Closure and Open Angle Glaucomas](/publications/comparison-structural-and-functional-features-primary-angle-closure-and-open-angle). J Glaucoma. 2024;33(4):254–261. PMID: 38031290 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract PRCIS: Using a large data set, we showed structural and functional differences between primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Primary angle closure glaucoma has relative structural preservation and worse functional... Singh R, Zhao Y, Elze T, Fingert J, Gordon M, Kass M, Luo Y, Pasquale L, Scheetz T, Segrè A, Wiggs J, Zebardast N. [Polygenic Risk Scores for Glaucoma Onset in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study](/publications/polygenic-risk-scores-glaucoma-onset-ocular-hypertension-treatment-study). JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(4):356–363. PMID: 38483402 Singh R, Zhao Y, Elze T, Fingert J, Gordon M, Kass M, Luo Y, Pasquale L, Scheetz T, Segrè A, Wiggs J, Zebardast N. [Polygenic Risk Scores for Glaucoma Onset in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study](/publications/polygenic-risk-scores-glaucoma-onset-ocular-hypertension-treatment-study). JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024;142(4):356–363. PMID: 38483402 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract IMPORTANCE: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a highly heritable disease, with 127 identified risk loci to date. Polygenic risk score (PRS) may provide a clinically useful measure of aggregate genetic burden and improve patient risk stratification... Lu E, Cui Y, Le R, Zhu Y, Wang J, Laíns I, Katz R, Lu Y, Zeng R, Garg I, Wu D, Husain D, Kim L, Miller J. [Widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography metrics associated with neovascular glaucoma in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy](/publications/widefield-swept-source-optical-coherence-tomography-angiography-metrics-associated). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024;262(4):1111–1120. PMID: 37962666 Lu E, Cui Y, Le R, Zhu Y, Wang J, Laíns I, Katz R, Lu Y, Zeng R, Garg I, Wu D, Husain D, Kim L, Miller J. [Widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography metrics associated with neovascular glaucoma in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy](/publications/widefield-swept-source-optical-coherence-tomography-angiography-metrics-associated). Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024;262(4):1111–1120. PMID: 37962666 - add\_circle do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract PURPOSE: To explore the association between widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA) metrics, including nonperfusion area (NPA) and neovascularization (NV), and presence of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) in patients with...