Blood flow regulation and neural function in the human eye.

研究的性质和重要性：视觉是一种重要的感觉方式，用于在整个生命周期中保持自主性和生活质量。当光线照射到视网膜时，它开始转变为电信号，然后通过视神经和视觉通路传递到大脑。为了保持最佳的视力，视网膜和视神经乳头必须得到充分的营养，这是通过脉络膜、视网膜循环以及软脑膜和睫状体循环来实现的。 视网膜和视神经头的血液供应是支持神经元正常功能的原因。血管供应和神经功能之间的复杂联系称为神经血管耦合。这意味着神经元的营养需求和血液提供的营养之间必须保持微妙的平衡。如果这种平衡失败，可能会导致血管源性眼病。预期结果以及该领域将如何受益：这项研究将详细评估当眼睛受到诱导氧气短暂减少的条件的压力时，人类视网膜和视神经乳头中的神经血管耦合。这将有助于我们更好地了解健康眼睛中神经元及其血管供应之间的正常相互作用。这些结果也可能导致更好地理解为什么这种正常关系在三种重要的眼睛血管疾病中失败，这些疾病随着年龄的增长而更频繁地发展：青光眼，糖尿病视网膜病变和年龄相关性黄斑变性。加拿大将如何受益：由于人口老龄化，更多的加拿大人可能患有与年龄有关的眼部疾病。越早诊断出威胁视力的疾病并进行适当的治疗，就越有可能保护视力，提高生活质量，并降低我们人口中这一不断增长的部门的医疗保健成本。

NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH: Vision is an important sensory modality for maintaining autonomy and quality of life throughout the lifespan. It begins when light strikes the retina, is transformed into an electrical signal and then relayed to the brain via the optic nerve and visual pathways. For vision to remain optimal, the retina and optic nerve head have to be adequately nourished, and this is accomplished by the choroid, the retinal circulation as well as the pial and ciliary circulations. Blood supply to the retina and optic nerve head is what supports the proper function of the neurons. The intricate link between vascular supply and neuronal function is called neurovascular coupling. This means that a delicate balance must be respected between the nutritional needs of the neurons and the nutriments provided by the blood. If this balance fails, it may lead to eye diseases of vascular origin. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES AND HOW THE FIELD WILL BENEFIT: This research will evaluate in detail the neurovascular coupling in the human retina and optic nerve head when the eye is stressed by conditions inducing a transient decrease in oxygen. This will help us better understand the normal interaction between the neurons and their vascular supply in the healthy eye. These results may also lead to a better understanding as to why this normal relationship fails in three important vascular diseases of the eye that develop more frequently with age: glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. HOW CANADA WILL BENEFIT: Because of the aging of the population, a greater number of Canadians are likely to suffer from age-related ocular diseases. The earlier that a diagnosis of a sight threatening condition can be made and appropriate treatment instituted, the greater the likelihood of preserving vision, promoting a better quality of life, and reducing healthcare costs in this growing sector of our population.