An acute intraocular pressure challenge to assess retinal ganglion cell injury and recovery in the mouse.

We describe a model of acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in the mouse eye that induces reversible loss of inner retinal function associated with oxidative stress, glial cell activation and minimal loss of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) number. Young healthy mouse eyes recover inner retinal function within 7-days but more persistent functional loss is seen in older mice. Manipulation of diet and exercise further modify RGC recovery demonstrating the utility of this injury model for investigating lifestyle and therapeutic interventions. We believe that systematic investigation into the characteristics and determinants of RGC recovery following an IOP challenge will shed light on processes that govern RGC vulnerability in the early stages of glaucoma.