# Continuous measurement and control of intraocular pressure in normal and glaucomatous eyes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 2021 · $358,389

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is a subject of considerable scientific, clinical, and pharmaceutical
interest. High IOP is an established risk factor for glaucoma, an insidious disease that causes blindness by
killing retinal ganglion cells, so lowering IOP is a primary focus of all current treatments. The first approach
in clinical care is to prescribe patients medicines that alter the production and outflow of aqueous fluid in the
eye. Many of these medicines achieve a therapeutic effect by targeting signals from the autonomic nervous
system, which dynamically modulates aqueous humor dynamics for reasons that are not entirely known.
One of the strongest modulators is the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the brain, which coordinates a circadian
rhythm in mean IOP. Other autonomic neuromodulators include stress and intracranial pressure (ICP). Their
collective actions cause IOP to fluctuate continually, sometimes reaching levels that would cause glaucoma
in some individuals if maintained for extended periods. Involvement of ICP in IOP modulation is particularly
intriguing because ICP contributes to the translaminar pressure gradient across the optic nerve head, which
determines the mechanical stress and strain profiles experienced by retinal ganglion cell axons as they exit
the eye to the brain. ICP could therefore factor into glaucoma pathophysiology as well.
The proposed research is directed at advancing our understanding of circadian and autonomic mechanisms
of IOP modulation and the potential involvement of these mechanisms in disease onset and progression. To
do this, one-of-a-kind technologies are used that provide researchers the ability to record or control IOP or
ICP round-the-clock in rats. IOP, ICP, body temperature, locomotor activity, aqueous outflow facility, and
ocular compliance will be concurrently recorded in various combinations as ambient light-dark cycle is
altered, sympathetic nerve agonists and antagonists are administered, and variable pressure loads are
transiently applied to the eye. In so doing, new insights will be gained about the origin and control of ocular
rhythms, about efferent control of IOP by ICP, and about possible roles of circadian and autonomic systems
in glaucoma. These insights could lead to new approaches and targets for disease treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10122232
- **Project number:** 2R01EY027037-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER L PASSAGLIA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $358,389
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10122232

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10122232, Continuous measurement and control of intraocular pressure in normal and glaucomatous eyes (2R01EY027037-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10122232. Licensed CC0.

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