by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

Each year, more than three million Americans are affected by glaucoma, a debilitating eye disease, which left untreated, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In South Carolina, more than 27,000 cases have been reported.

Former Texas Tech researcher Craig Crosson, Ph.D., wants to change that.

Crosson comes to South Carolina with big dreams and a vision. He plans to achieve his goal of preventing this symptomless disease by heightening glaucoma research and guiding other ophthalmic studies, placing the Albert Florens Storm Eye Institute among the nation’s most prestigious eye centers.

Crosson accepted the dual role of director of the Ola B. Williams Glaucoma Therapeutic Development Center and director of research in the Department of Ophthalmology in July.

His appointment is part of Storm Eye Institute’s $8.8 million expansion project which was established in 1994. The expansion provided an additional 30,000 square feet, which opened three new floors to accommodate four teams of researchers providing valuable scientific research, teaching, surgery and patient care activities all within one location.

“Our goal is to keep the loop open between researchers and patients,” said Crosson, who is a native of Pueblo, Colo. “By doing this, the loop works both ways. We’re excited at how we can reduce the time it takes to move work (research) from the laboratory directly into the clinics.”

The Williams Glaucoma Therapeutic Development Center, dedicated to Ola B. Williams, mother of North Carolina businessman and benefactor Jack Williams and his wife, Melanie, will provide research through the discovery of new technologies, devices and pharmaceutical agents used for the treatment of eye diseases.

Crosson’s lab will study retinal research and pharmacological treatment of elevated intraocular pressure (eye pressure) utilizing funds from National Eye Institute (NEI) investigators.

Working with Alexander Kent, M.D. and the clinical trials group at SEI, the Glaucoma Center plans to conduct clinical trials for the treatment of various forms of glaucoma including open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma which causes optic nerve damage and narrowed side vision. Other forms of the disease include closed-angle, congenital and secondary glaucoma.

“It’s good that the NEI is part of this,” Crosson said. “MUSC possesses the strengths for national recognition in vision research.” Crosson will strive to increase vision research by building upon a strong base of other SEI researchers and specialists which include: David J. Apple, M.D., ophthalmic pathology; Kent, glaucoma; Eric R. James, Ph.D., ocular parasitology; Jian-xing Ma., MD., Ph.D., molecular biology; and Rosalie Crouch, Ph.D., ocular biology and dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

“Right now, we’re on a threshold of understanding the pathophysiological events that lead to the elevation of intraocular pressure in the eye,” Crosson said. “These are the primary characteristics of glaucoma.”

The amount of eye pressure affecting the optic nerve causes changes in vision, especially peripheral or side vision. It is the optic nerve which is composed of a bundle of millions of nerve fibers that connects the retina to the brain.

New research and increased knowledge of the disease has challenged scientists to redefine this eye disease many times over. Glaucoma affects people over age 60, persons who suffer from diabetes, or individuals with a family history of the disease. Most startling is how this sight-threatening disease affects specific ethnic groups including Asians and African Americans. According to Emory University research, not only are blacks at extremely high risk to develop higher levels of blinding eye pressure associated with the disease, they experience more aggressive forms of glaucoma.

“Locally, we need to be more responsive to our area population,” Crosson said. “Charleston consists of a growing retirement community and people of different backgrounds who’s prevalence for glaucoma is higher than those in other regions of the country. Yes, it is a concern.”

“Today, glaucoma treatment is limited to eye drops, laser surgery, eye operations or a combination of all of these methods,” Crosson continued. “The purpose of these treatments is to lower intraocular pressure. Keeping the pressure under control is the key to slowing irreversible vision loss. Unfortunately, there is nothing on the market that’s been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) today which protects the retina. That’s why I see this as a big, needy area to explore and develop new therapies.”

Crosson, who is a graduate of Colorado State University, received his Ph.D. in physiology and biophysics in 1982. He is a recipient of the International Congress of Eye Research Fellowship in 1984 and holds memberships with the Society for Neuroscience and served as chairman of the program planning committee for both the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the International Society for Eye Research (ISER).

He previously served as director of research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. He was director of glaucoma and retinal research at Houston Biotechnology, Inc. and glaucoma group leader at Allergan Inc., where he was responsible for research and the development of the beta blocker drug Brimonidine (trademark name, Alphagan).

In addition, Crosson serves as an editorial reviewer for several eye research organizations and is a member of visual science study sections for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He currently has a total of five patents filed and granted.