To evaluate the intensity of oxidative molecular damage and its clinical correlations: visual field damage, intraocular pressure, age, and disease duration.Methods: DNA was extracted from human trabecular meshwork specimens collected from 17 glaucomaaffected patients using standard filtration surgery. Twentyone specimens from healthy eyes collected for cornea transplants serve as controls. Oxidative DNA damage was evaluated by determining 8-hydroxy-2Ј-deoxyguanosine levels. All patients underwent a Humphrey 30-2 visual field examination and diurnal tonometry before surgery.Results: The mean ± SD DNA oxidative damage was 8.51 ± 5.44 and 1.75 ± 1.80 8-hydroxy-2Ј-deoxyguano-sine molecules/10 5 normal nucleotides in patients with glaucoma and controls, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was found among human trabecular meshwork DNA oxidative damage, visual field damage, and intraocular pressure. No other statistically significant correlations were found.Conclusions: Oxidative stress may represent an important pathogenetic step in primary open-angle glaucoma because it could induce human trabecular meshwork degeneration, favoring an intraocular pressure increase, thus priming the glaucoma pathogenetic cascade.

Therapy with LA and GLA and tear substitutes reduces ocular surface inflammation and improves dry eye symptoms. Long-term studies are needed to confirm the role of this new therapy for keratoconjunctivitis sicca.