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Neuroprotection of the Optic Nerve and the Retina

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Abstract

The optic nerve and the retina are extensions of the central nervous system (CNS). A variety of disease processes that are toxic, inflammatory, ischemic, and degenerative affects the optic nerve and can lead to blindness. Neuroprotective approaches have been explored to prevent damage to the optic nerve from acquired causes rather than from genetic disorders, with impairment of vision due to abnormalities such as optic nerve hypoplasia. Description is rather brief as this chapter is appended to a book with focus on neuroprotection in diseases involving the brain and the spinal cord. Many of the CNS diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can also involve the optic nerve.

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Correspondence to Kewal K. Jain .

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Jain, K.K. (2011). Neuroprotection of the Optic Nerve and the Retina. In: The Handbook of Neuroprotection. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-049-2_12

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