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<journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Front. Genet.</journal-id>
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<journal-title>Frontiers in Genetics</journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="pubmed">Front. Genet.</abbrev-journal-title>
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<issn pub-type="epub">1664-8021</issn>
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<publisher-name>Frontiers Media S.A.</publisher-name>
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<article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">1781271</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.3389/fgene.2026.1781271</article-id>
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<subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
<subject>Mini Review</subject>
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<title-group>
<article-title>Emerging role of epigenetic mechanisms in glaucoma and their translational potential</article-title>
<alt-title alt-title-type="left-running-head">Kondkar et al.</alt-title>
<alt-title alt-title-type="right-running-head">
<ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2026.1781271">10.3389/fgene.2026.1781271</ext-link>
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<contrib contrib-type="author" corresp="yes">
<name>
<surname>Kondkar</surname>
<given-names>Altaf A.</given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
<sup>1</sup>
</xref>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
<sup>2</sup>
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<xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
<sup>3</sup>
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<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Sultan</surname>
<given-names>Tahira</given-names>
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<sup>1</sup>
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<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Azad</surname>
<given-names>Taif A.</given-names>
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<sup>1</sup>
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<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname>Al-Obeidan</surname>
<given-names>Saleh A.</given-names>
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<sup>1</sup>
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<aff id="aff1">
<label>1</label>
<institution>King Saud University-Research Center for Excellence in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University</institution>, <city>Riyadh</city>, <country country="SA">Saudi Arabia</country>
</aff>
<aff id="aff2">
<label>2</label>
<institution>Glaucoma Research Chair in Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University</institution>, <city>Riyadh</city>, <country country="SA">Saudi Arabia</country>
</aff>
<aff id="aff3">
<label>3</label>
<institution>King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University</institution>, <city>Riyadh</city>, <country country="SA">Saudi Arabia</country>
</aff>
<author-notes>
<corresp id="c001">
<label>&#x2a;</label>Correspondence: Altaf A. Kondkar, <email xlink:href="mailto:akondkar@gmail.com">akondkar@gmail.com</email>
</corresp>
</author-notes>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2026-02-23">
<day>23</day>
<month>02</month>
<year>2026</year>
</pub-date>
<pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="collection">
<year>2026</year>
</pub-date>
<volume>17</volume>
<elocation-id>1781271</elocation-id>
<history>
<date date-type="received">
<day>05</day>
<month>01</month>
<year>2026</year>
</date>
<date date-type="rev-recd">
<day>28</day>
<month>01</month>
<year>2026</year>
</date>
<date date-type="accepted">
<day>09</day>
<month>02</month>
<year>2026</year>
</date>
</history>
<permissions>
<copyright-statement>Copyright &#xa9; 2026 Kondkar, Sultan, Azad and Al-Obeidan.</copyright-statement>
<copyright-year>2026</copyright-year>
<copyright-holder>Kondkar, Sultan, Azad and Al-Obeidan</copyright-holder>
<license>
<ali:license_ref start_date="2026-02-23">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</ali:license_ref>
<license-p>This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)</ext-link>. The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.</license-p>
</license>
</permissions>
<abstract>
<p>Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is a complex polygenic disease where significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity do not explain all glaucoma cases, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms like epigenetics. This review examines the emerging role of key epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in glaucoma pathogenesis and their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We discuss how aberrant DNA methylation (e.g., <italic>GDF7</italic> hypomethylation/<italic>CDKN2B</italic> hypermethylation) promotes trabecular meshwork fibrosis and increases optic nerve vulnerability, contributing to disease development and/or progression. The <italic>METTL23</italic> histone methylation linked to retinal ganglion cell death at normal eye pressure, and disease-specific microRNA profiles further support the role of epigenetic involvement in glaucoma. The proof-of-concept studies of GDF7 neutralization in primate models and the OSK-factor reprogramming in aged and glaucoma mice models, show that epigenetic changes are reversible and can restore visual functions. DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks identify glaucoma as an accelerated molecular aging process. Although promising, the current evidences are largely preclinical and long-term human data are still lacking. Nonetheless, the inherent reversible nature of epigenetics offers significant translational potential. Methylation, epigenetic clocks, and circulating microRNA profiles could enable early, non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Future efforts are needed to validate biomarkers in large cohorts and develop targeted epigenetic therapies. In conclusion, epigenetics is redefining our current understanding of glaucoma from a pressure-based disease to a modifiable link between genes and environment paving the way for personalized care for vision preservation beyond pressure-lowering treatments.</p>
</abstract>
<kwd-group>
<kwd>biomarkers</kwd>
<kwd>DNA methylation</kwd>
<kwd>epigenetics</kwd>
<kwd>glaucoma</kwd>
<kwd>histone modifications</kwd>
<kwd>neurodegeneration</kwd>
<kwd>non-coding RNA</kwd>
</kwd-group>
<funding-group>
<funding-statement>The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. This work is supported by the King Saud University through the Vice Deanship of Scientific Research Chair and Glaucoma Research Chair in Ophthalmology (GRC-2026).</funding-statement>
</funding-group>
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<ref-count count="93"/>
<page-count count="9"/>
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<custom-meta>
<meta-name>section-at-acceptance</meta-name>
<meta-value>RNA</meta-value>
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</front>
<body>
<sec sec-type="intro" id="s1">
<label>1</label>
<title>Introduction</title>
<p>Glaucoma is a group of optic neuropathies characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), damage to the optic nerve, and blindness (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B18">Dietze et al., 2025</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B81">Weinreb et al., 2014</xref>). The estimated worldwide prevalence of adult-onset glaucoma is 3.5% in the population aged 40&#xa0;years and above, affecting around 80 million people globally, with an estimated projection to nearly 112 million by 2040 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">Allison et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B73">Tham et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">Al-Manjoumi et al., 2023</xref>). Since elevated IOP is considered a major risk factor for RGC death in glaucoma, the current clinical management is also focused on lowering IOP (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B58">Park et al., 2023</xref>). However, up to 40% or more of glaucoma patients do not exhibit high IOP but still suffer from progressive optic nerve damage, as seen in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B39">Kim and Park, 2016</xref>). These cases demonstrate that there are several other non-IOP factors contributing to glaucoma development.</p>
<p>Glaucoma is a complex multifactorial disease involving both genetic and environmental influences (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B82">Wiggs, 2012</xref>). A number of genetic studies, including genome-wide, have identified several Mendelian genes (e.g., <italic>MYOC</italic>, <italic>CYP1B1</italic>, <italic>PAX6</italic>, <italic>FOXC1</italic>), chromosomal loci (GLC1A-P), and DNA variants associated with glaucoma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B41">Kolovos et al., 2025</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B74">Tirendi et al., 2023</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B93">Zukerman et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">Abu-Amero et al., 2015</xref>). Although these studies have provided significant mechanistic insights into disease pathogenesis, they fail to explain the clinical variability seen in glaucoma onset, progression, and treatment response, suggesting the role of factors beyond genetic determinants (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B22">D&#x2019;Esposito et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B78">Wang and Wang, 2023</xref>). There is evidence to believe that the environmental factors, such as aging, oxidative stress, and inflammation, interact with the genome in complex ways, inducing aberrant epigenetic regulation that might be the missing link, beyond the genetic determinants (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="F1">Figure 1</xref>) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B78">Wang and Wang, 2023</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B20">Dolinoy and Jirtle, 2008</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B56">Medeiros et al., 2025</xref>).</p>
<fig id="F1" position="float">
<label>FIGURE 1</label>
<caption>
<p>Conceptual model of epigenetics as the link between genetics and environment in the complex pathogenesis of glaucoma. Environmental factors interact with the genetic blueprint, and epigenetic mechanisms process these signals to regulate and influence crucial pathological outcomes, including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, fibrosis, oxidative stress, trabecular meshwork (TM) dysfunction, intraocular pressure (IOP) alteration, leading to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and the eventual clinical manifestation of glaucoma.</p>
</caption>
<graphic xlink:href="fgene-17-1781271-g001.tif">
<alt-text content-type="machine-generated">Flowchart shows environmental factors and genetic factors impacting epigenetic factors, which modulate cellular events in the eye such as ECM remodeling, fibrosis, oxidative stress, TM dysfunction, IOP, and RGC death leading to glaucoma.</alt-text>
</graphic>
</fig>
<p>Epigenetics refers to the heritable changes observed in gene expression without alteration in the DNA sequence (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B35">Kachhawaha et al., 2023</xref>). There is strong evidence to suggest that epigenetics might be associated with glaucoma development and progression, plausibly by altering gene expression profiles critical to IOP control, optic nerve integrity, and neuroinflammation. These biological processes are central to aqueous humor dynamics, RGC survival, immune responses, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which are strongly implicated in glaucoma (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="F1">Figure 1</xref>) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B22">D&#x2019;Esposito et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B75">Tonti et al., 2024</xref>).</p>
<p>Eye represents an excellent model for epigenetic research (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">Alkozi et al., 2017</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B44">Lanza et al., 2019</xref>). The purpose of this review is to examine the epigenetic contributions of DNA methylation, histone modifications, <italic>N</italic>6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, and non-coding RNAs in glaucoma pathogenesis and their clinical translational potential.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2">
<label>2</label>
<title>Epigenetic mechanisms in glaucoma</title>
<sec id="s2-1">
<label>2.1</label>
<title>DNA methylation</title>
<p>DNA methylation is often referred to as &#x2018;the epigenetic switch.&#x2019; It involves the addition of a methyl group to a cytosine base, prominently at CpG sites near gene promoters, causing gene silencing when hypermethylated or gene transcription when hypomethylated (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B33">Jin and Liu, 2018</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B47">Lim and Maher, 2010</xref>). Methylation is a tightly regulated process involving specific enzymes that are critical for developmental processes, cellular differentiation, and maintenance of genomic stability. These include the &#x2018;writers&#x2019; and &#x2018;maintainers,&#x2019; which are the DNA Methyltransferases (DNMTs), like DNMT1 for maintenance and DNMT3A/B for new establishment. The &#x201c;erasers&#x201d; are the Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) enzymes, which control the on/off switch by oxidizing the methyl group (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B16">Dan and Chen, 2022</xref>). DNA methylation offers a dynamic interface between environmental stimuli (e.g., oxidative stress) and gene expression in ocular tissues. Aberrant expression of these enzymes can lead to abnormal methylation patterns and dysregulation of genes involved in key processes implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis, such as ECM remodeling, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">Bou Ghanem et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B24">Fern&#xe1;ndez-Albarral et al., 2024</xref>).</p>
<sec id="s2-1-1">
<label>2.1.1</label>
<title>Evidence of differential DNA methylation in glaucoma</title>
<p>Several studies have demonstrated aberrant DNA methylation in different types of glaucoma. Junemann et al. reported a significantly higher global DNA methylation in blood cells of POAG patients compared to controls and PXG patients (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B34">Junemann et al., 2014</xref>). The trabeculectomy sections from glaucomatous eyes were reported to have significant DNA hypomethylation of Alu repetitive elements in POAG and PACG, and significant DNA hypermethylation of <italic>HERV-K</italic> in POAG patients (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B11">Chansangpetch et al., 2018</xref>). These methylation changes were proposed to predispose the trabecular meshwork (TM) cells to a profibrotic phenotype (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B11">Chansangpetch et al., 2018</xref>).</p>
<p>In PXG, the <italic>LOXL1</italic> promoter is reported to be hypermethylated in lens capsule and human Tenon fibroblasts that correlated with reduced <italic>LOXL1</italic> expression and increased ECM cross-linking (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B25">Greene et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B84">Ye et al., 2015</xref>). Interestingly, treatment of human Tenon Fibroblasts with DNMT inhibitor, 5-aza-dC, restored LOXL1 expression in PXG fibroblasts (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B25">Greene et al., 2020</xref>). Conversely, Kapuganti et al. reported hypomethylation of the clusterin promoter in patients with PXG (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B36">Kapuganti et al., 2023</xref>). In another study, <italic>CDKN2B</italic> gene promoter hypermethylation at the 9p21 locus has been linked to NTG susceptibility in women (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">Burdon et al., 2018</xref>). <italic>CDKN2B</italic> silencing due to hypermethylaiton causes its suppression that may increase the optic nerve&#x2019;s vulnerability to non-IOP stressors (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">Burdon et al., 2018</xref>). This study elegantly demonstrated how epigenetic errors through aberrant methylation can impact critical RGC survival pathways, leading to neurodegeneration even at normal IOP.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-1-2">
<label>2.1.2</label>
<title>Mechanistic evidence of DNA methylation in glaucoma</title>
<p>High IOP is the result of decreased outflow capacity at the level of the TM and Schlemm&#x2019;s canal, the primary exit route of aqueous humor (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">Carreon et al., 2017</xref>). Dexamethasone (DEX)-treated primary human TM&#xa0;cells exhibited hypomethylation of the thrombospondin-1 (<italic>THBS1</italic>) promoter region and reduced transcript levels of 2 DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), DNMT1 and DNMT3A (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B14">Choy et al., 2025</xref>). This change was consistent with DNA methylation inhibitors, 5-azacytosine (5-AC) or 5-aza-2&#x2032;-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), inducing an increase in THBS1 protein levels, leading to the reduced outflow facility <italic>ex vivo</italic> and increased IOP <italic>in vivo</italic> adult male C57BL/6&#xa0;J mice (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B14">Choy et al., 2025</xref>). These results highlight a clear mechanism in which DNMT downregulation and promoter hypomethylation alter THBS1 expression and influence ECM composition and aqueous outflow resistance. In glaucoma, fibrosis is one of the key mechanisms in glaucoma development and progression, as a result of ECM deposition in the TM at the anterior of the eye, and at the optic nerve head in the lamina cribrosa, leading to aqueous outflow resistance, elevated IOP, and subsequently glaucoma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B38">Keller and Peters, 2022</xref>). The <italic>GDF7</italic> gene promoter region is aberrantly hypomethylated in glaucomatous TM samples and TET-dependent (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B76">Wan et al., 2021</xref>). Hypomethylation causes gene activation, which releases the brake, causing GDF7 protein overexpression, increasing proteins like &#x3b1;-SMA, promoting fibrosis which clogs the drainage pathway, raising IOP. This landmark study is a prime example of a targetable epigenetic mechanism in POAG. Crucially, in a therapeutic proof-of-concept, neutralizing GDF7 with antibodies reduced this fibrosis and improved outflow in a primate model. This study showed that GDF7 is a direct, reversible, and therapeutic targetable epigenetic cause of high IOP and fibrosis in POAG, offering a potential for a novel anti-fibrotic therapy (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B76">Wan et al., 2021</xref>). Likewise, glaucomatous Schlemm&#x2019;s canal endothelial cells have been shown to exhibit distinct methylation profiles in genes (<italic>TGFBR3</italic>, <italic>TBX3</italic>, <italic>TNXB1, DAXX</italic>, and <italic>PITX2</italic>) enriched in pathways regulating outflow resistance. However, further studies are needed to validate these findings (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">Cai et al., 2020</xref>).</p>
<p>Taken together, these studies suggest a complex and gene-specific methylation landscape in glaucoma subtypes and illustrate how DNA methylation can act as a molecular switch modulating distinct cellular pathways, promoting ECM remodeling in PXG (via <italic>LOXL1</italic> or <italic>CLU</italic>) and influencing neuroprotective cell-cycle regulation in NTG (via <italic>CDKN2B</italic>), thereby contributing directly to disease susceptibility. It can thus be speculated that promoter methylation changes may represent potential blood-based biomarkers for glaucoma risk assessment and gender-specific susceptibility, as well as a valuable target for new treatments to mitigate glaucoma or fibrosis-related outflow resistance to restore normal TM function and outflow facility.</p>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-2">
<label>2.2</label>
<title>Epigenetic reprogramming</title>
<p>
<italic>In vivo</italic> epigenetic reprogramming using Yamanaka OSK factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4) has shown promise in preclinical models. Reprogramming aged or glaucomatous RGCs reverses DNA methylation patterns to a youthful state, restoring a healthy transcriptome and visual function in mice. Transient OSK expression in glaucomatous eyes reversed vision loss in mice. The effect was dependent on DNA demethylases TET1 and TET2 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B50">Lu et al., 2020</xref>). Moving beyond the initial proof-of-concept, a follow-up study provided compelling evidence of long-term safety and efficacy for vision recovery in glaucoma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B37">Karg et al., 2023</xref>). The studies provide groundbreaking evidence of epigenetic reprogramming as a viable and sustainable approach for recovering lost vision in glaucoma with direct neural rescue and repair, moving us closer to a future where we can complement IOP-lowering.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-3">
<label>2.3</label>
<title>DNA methylation-based EpiScores</title>
<p>Recent evidence suggests that DNA methylation (DNAm)-based EpiScores and GrimAge acceleration are positively associated with glaucoma risk, indicating that the disease may represent an accelerated molecular aging process (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B56">Medeiros et al., 2025</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B32">Jiang et al., 2025</xref>). EpiScore and GrimAge are epigenetic clock that predicts biological age and mortality risk based on DNAm patterns. Accelerated epigenetic aging compared to chronological aging is associated with a 15% higher odds of faster glaucoma progression. Importantly, this relationship remains strong even in patients with relatively low IOP, indicating that epigenetic aging may predispose the optic nerve to damage from things like oxidative stress, independent of IOP level (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B56">Medeiros et al., 2025</xref>). These results highlight the potential clinical importance of epigenetic age acceleration as a non-invasive predictor of progression.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-4">
<label>2.4</label>
<title>Histone modifications</title>
<p>Histone modifications, including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination, can regulate gene expression by altering chromatin structure (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B17">Davie and Chadee, 1998</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B86">Zhang et al., 2015</xref>). These modifications, catalyzed by specific enzymes, play significant roles in regulating genes involved in maintenance of IOP and RGC health, thereby influencing glaucoma risk and severity (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B75">Tonti et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B23">Feng et al., 2023</xref>).</p>
<p>Studies on glaucoma-related histone modifications have mainly focused on deacetylation (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B61">Pelzel et al., 2010</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B68">Schmitt et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">Alsarraf et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B69">Sharma et al., 2016</xref>). Histone deacetylation functions as a crucial epigenetic switch that may accelerate glaucomatous neurodegeneration (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B61">Pelzel et al., 2010</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B69">Sharma et al., 2016</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">Biermann et al., 2011</xref>). The HDAC inhibitors have consistently demonstrated to exhibit neuroprotective effects and improved surgical outcomes in different animal models of glaucoma, highlighting their potential utility as pharmacological agents in glaucoma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B23">Feng et al., 2023</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B68">Schmitt et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">Alsarraf et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B69">Sharma et al., 2016</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">Biermann et al., 2011</xref>).</p>
<p>Histone methylation is another critical regulatory mechanism in glaucoma. The trimethylation mark H3K27me3, catalyzed by EZH2 are both detected in RGCs (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B64">Rao et al., 2012</xref>). A study by Rao et al. (2010) showed that inhibition of EZH2 induces RGC apoptosis, underscoring the essential role of EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 in retinal neuronal survival and suggesting its involvement in glaucomatous degeneration (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B63">Rao et al., 2010</xref>).</p>
<sec id="s2-4-1">
<label>2.4.1</label>
<title>METTL23 and NTG: a histone methylation connection</title>
<p>Mutations in <italic>the METTL23</italic> gene encoding a histone arginine methyltransferase have been linked to NTG (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B57">Pan et al., 2022</xref>). METTL23 catalyzes the dimethylation of H3R17 in the retina. The c.A23G mutation inherited as an autosomal dominant condition results in METTL23 loss of function, leading to impaired dimethylation of histone H3R17. This disrupts gene regulation in RGCs, causing RGC apoptosis through NF-&#x3ba;B signaling. The study highlights a novel epigenetic etiology in NTG and provides a direct evidence linking abnormal histone methylation to glaucomatous neurodegeneration (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B57">Pan et al., 2022</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B67">Scheetz et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B48">Liu and Sun, 2022</xref>). In addition, the findings open new therapeutic avenues to target the downstream inflammatory NF-&#x3ba;B signaling or the histone methylation modulators, shifting the paradigm beyond the conventional IOP-based approach of glaucoma management.</p>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-5">
<label>2.5</label>
<title>N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification</title>
<p>m6A is a common mRNA modification regulating RNA stability, splicing, translation, and decay, affecting gene expression (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B31">Jiang et al., 2021</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B60">Patil et al., 2018</xref>). The modification involves regulation by writers (e.g., methyltransferase-like protein 3, METTL3), erasers (e.g., fat mass and obesity-associated, FTO), and readers (e.g., YTH family protein YTHDC2) (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B31">Jiang et al., 2021</xref>). These writer, eraser, and reader proteins play a significant role in various diseases, but are less studied in glaucoma.</p>
<p>In PXG, elevated global m6A levels and upregulated writer and reader enzymes (e.g., METTL3, YTHDC2) in aqueous humor may serve as biomarkers, with m6A-modified transcripts enriched in matrix organization pathways (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B22">D&#x2019;Esposito et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B27">Guan et al., 2023</xref>). In another study, differential m6A-methylated lncRNAs in PXG aqueous humor influenced glaucoma-related genes and processes (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B28">Guan et al., 2024</xref>). In POAG, bioinformatics analyses identified differentially expressed m6A regulators (e.g., upregulated reader YTHDF1, downregulated reader YTHDC2) in TM tissues. Silencing YTHDC2 in human TM&#xa0;cells enhanced migration and ECM synthesis, demonstrating a functional role in outflow resistance (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B89">Zhang et al., 2025</xref>). Current studies suggest that targeting writer and reader pathways could lead to new treatments. For example, blocking the writer METTL3 might control fibrosis in PXG, and silencing readers like YTHDC2 may prevent TM dysfunction in POAG (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B75">Tonti et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B28">Guan et al., 2024</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B89">Zhang et al., 2025</xref>).</p>
<p>To enhance clinical utility and highlight the diagnostic potential of the epigenetic changes discussed in the above sections, a summary of the key markers characterized by their subtype-specific roles in POAG, PXG, and NTG is listed in <xref ref-type="table" rid="T1">Table 1</xref>.</p>
<table-wrap id="T1" position="float">
<label>TABLE 1</label>
<caption>
<p>Summary of key subtype-specific epigenetic markers in glaucoma.</p>
</caption>
<table>
<thead valign="top">
<tr>
<th align="left">Glaucoma subtype</th>
<th align="left">Epigenetic mechanism</th>
<th align="left">Specific marker</th>
<th align="left">Change</th>
<th align="left">References</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody valign="top">
<tr>
<td align="left">PXG</td>
<td align="left">DNA Methylation</td>
<td align="left">
<italic>LOXL1</italic> Promoter</td>
<td align="left">Hypermethylation</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B25">Greene et al. (2020)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B84">Ye et al. (2015)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">POAG</td>
<td align="left">DNA Methylation</td>
<td align="left">
<italic>GDF7</italic> Promoter</td>
<td align="left">Hypomethylation</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B76">Wan et al. (2021)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">NTG</td>
<td align="left">DNA Methylation</td>
<td align="left">
<italic>CDKN2B</italic> Promoter</td>
<td align="left">Hypermethylation</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">Burdon et al. (2018)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">NTG</td>
<td align="left">Histone Modification</td>
<td align="left">
<italic>METTL23</italic>
</td>
<td align="left">Loss of Function</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B57">Pan et al. (2022)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">PXG</td>
<td align="left">m6A Methylation</td>
<td align="left">
<italic>METTL3</italic> (Writer)</td>
<td align="left">Upregulated</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B27">Guan et al. (2023)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">POAG</td>
<td align="left">m6A Methylation</td>
<td align="left">
<italic>YTHDC2</italic> (Reader)</td>
<td align="left">Downregulated</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B89">Zhang et al. (2025)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn>
<p>Abbreviations: PXG, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma; POAG, primary open-angle glaucoma; NTG, normal-tension glaucoma.</p>
</fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-6">
<label>2.6</label>
<title>Noncoding RNAs</title>
<p>Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) like microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are pivotal players in cell regulatory networks across a broad spectrum of biological processes implicated in glaucoma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B66">Rong et al., 2021</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15">Costa et al., 2025</xref>). Differential expression and abnormal function of these regulatory molecules can affect gene networks related to fibrosis, IOP, and optic nerve health, making them promising biomarker candidates and drug targets (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B66">Rong et al., 2021</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B87">Zhang et al., 2021</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B30">Huang et al., 2022</xref>).</p>
<sec id="s2-6-1">
<label>2.6.1</label>
<title>MiRNAs</title>
<p>miRNAs are the most extensively studied class of ncRNAs in glaucoma and have been elegantly reviewed elsewhere for detailed molecular summaries (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B19">Dobrzycka et al., 2023</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B26">Greene et al., 2022</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B54">Martinez and Peplow, 2022</xref>). Several studies have confirmed that these small RNA molecules (&#x223c;19&#x2013;23 nucleotides in length) regulate a wide range of pathological processes, including ECM remodeling, TM&#xa0;cell function, RGC apoptosis, and oxidative stress.</p>
<p>In the TM, multiple miRNAs (e.g., miR-29b and miR-200a) exert anti-fibrotic effects by targeting pathways like TGF-&#x3b2; and Wnt/&#x3b2;-catenin to counteract ECM accumulation (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B38">Keller and Peters, 2022</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B51">Luna et al., 2009</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B52">Luna et al., 2011</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B53">Luna et al., 2012</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B85">Yu et al., 2022</xref>). miRNAs such as miR-143/145 and miR-200c regulate TM&#xa0;cell contractility and IOP, with knockout studies demonstrating reduced IOP and improved outflow in mice (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B53">Luna et al., 2012</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B45">Li et al., 2017</xref>). Others, including miR-18a-5p, also target TGF-&#x3b2;2 signaling to reduce contractility and fibrosis (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B40">Knox et al., 2022</xref>). Beyond IOP regulation, miRNAs like miR-182, miR-100, and miR-96 influence RGC survival and offer neuroprotection (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B42">Kong et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B46">Li et al., 2019</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B77">Wang and Li, 2014</xref>), while others such as miR-27a modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B71">Tabak et al., 2021</xref>).</p>
<p>miRNAs in ocular fluids show promise as biomarkers. Profiles in aqueous humor and plasma are disease-specific, aiding in subtype differentiation (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B21">Drewry et al., 2018</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B29">Hindle et al., 2019</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B65">Rao et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B62">Raga-Cervera et al., 2021</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B72">Tanaka et al., 2014</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B43">Kosior-Jarecka et al., 2021</xref>). For example, specific miRNAs like miR-125b-5p are differentially expressed in POAG versus PXG (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B21">Drewry et al., 2018</xref>). A plasma panel of miR-637, miR-1306-5p, and miR-3159 identified glaucoma patients with an AUC of 0.91 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B29">Hindle et al., 2019</xref>), and serum miR-210-3p is elevated in POAG (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B49">Liu et al., 2019</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B91">Zhao et al., 2023</xref>). In addition, tear-based miRNAs have shown promise as a non-invasive method for glaucoma screening (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B62">Raga-Cervera et al., 2021</xref>). Moreover, miRNAs identified in aqueous humor (e.g., miR-143-3p, miR-125b-5p, and miR-1260b) have been proposed to serve as drug targets (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B54">Martinez and Peplow, 2022</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B88">Zhang et al., 2023</xref>). The functional roles and diagnostic potential of key identified miRNAs are summarized in <xref ref-type="table" rid="T2">Table 2</xref>.</p>
<table-wrap id="T2" position="float">
<label>TABLE 2</label>
<caption>
<p>Functional roles and differential expression of specific miRNAs in glaucoma.</p>
</caption>
<table>
<thead valign="top">
<tr>
<th align="center">Functional role</th>
<th align="center">miRNAs involved</th>
<th align="center">Sample/Source</th>
<th align="center">Postulated mechanism/Relevance</th>
<th align="center">References</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody valign="top">
<tr>
<td align="left">Anti-Fibrotic/ECM Regulation in TM</td>
<td align="left">miR-26a, miR-29b, miR-139, miR-155, miR-200a/c, miR-18a-5p</td>
<td align="left">Human TM cells, animal models</td>
<td align="left">Downregulate ECM components; inhibit TGF-&#x3b2;/Wnt signaling; reduce outflow resistance</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B51">Luna et al. (2009)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B52">Luna et al. (2011)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B53">Luna et al. (2012)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B85">Yu et al. (2022)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B40">Knox et al. (2022)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">TM Contractility and IOP Regulation</td>
<td align="left">miR-143/145, miR-200c</td>
<td align="left">Human TM cells, mouse KO models</td>
<td align="left">Regulate actin cytoskeleton; KO reduces IOP, increases outflow facility</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B53">Luna et al. (2012)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B45">Li et al. (2017)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">RGC Survival and Neuroprotection</td>
<td align="left">miR-182, miR-100, miR-96</td>
<td align="left">RGC-5 cells</td>
<td align="left">Modulate apoptosis, oxidative stress; promote survival via AKT/ERK pathways</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B42">Kong et al. (2014)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B46">Li et al. (2019)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B77">Wang and Li (2014)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">Oxidative Stress and Inflammation</td>
<td align="left">miR-27a, miR-182</td>
<td align="left">Retina, tears</td>
<td align="left">Modulate inflammatory/oxidative responses; potential tear biomarker</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B71">Tabak et al. (2021)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="4" align="left">Differential expression of fluid-based circulating miRNAs</td>
<td align="left">miR-125b-5p</td>
<td align="left">Aqueous humor</td>
<td align="left">Down in POAG, up in PXG</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B21">Drewry et al. (2018)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">miR-637, miR-1306-5p, miR-3159</td>
<td align="left">Plasma</td>
<td align="left">AUC &#x3d; 0.91 for glaucoma detection</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B29">Hindle et al. (2019)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">miR-210-3p</td>
<td align="left">Serum/plasma</td>
<td align="left">Elevated in POAG</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B49">Liu et al. (2019)</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B91">Zhao et al. (2023)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">miR-26b, miR-152, miR-30e, miR-151a</td>
<td align="left">Tear</td>
<td align="left">AUC &#x3e; 0.75 to differentiate between POAG and OHT</td>
<td align="left">
<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B62">Raga-Cervera et al. (2021)</xref>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table-wrap-foot>
<fn>
<p>Abbreviations: TM: trabecular meshwork; RGC: retinal ganglion cell; ECM: extracellular matrix; IOP: intraocular pressure; POAG: Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma; PXG: pseudoexfoliation glaucoma; OHT: ocular hypertension; KO: knockout; AUC: area under the curve.</p>
</fn>
</table-wrap-foot>
</table-wrap>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-6-2">
<label>2.6.2</label>
<title>LncRNAs</title>
<p>LncRNAs are transcripts over 200 nucleotides that often act as miRNA sponges (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B55">Mattick et al., 2023</xref>). By impairing the biological activity of miRNAs, lncRNAs increase the production of proteins from the target mRNAs and their dysregulation is implicated in glaucoma. Key lncRNAs like <italic>MALAT1</italic>, <italic>ANRIL</italic> (also known as <italic>CDKN2B-AS1</italic>), and others (ENST00000552367 and NR_038379) influence TM&#xa0;cell proliferation, ECM remodeling, and RGC vulnerability (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">Burdon et al., 2018</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B87">Zhang et al., 2021</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B30">Huang et al., 2022</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B59">Pasquale et al., 2013</xref>). <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B83">Xie et al. (2019)</xref> suggested that lncRNAs T267384, ENST00000607393, and T342877 might be potential therapy biomarkers for POAG. Some, including NR003923, H19, and LINC00028 are prospective targets for preventing post-surgical fibrosis (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B85">Yu et al., 2022</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B92">Zhu et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B90">Zhao et al., 2019</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B70">Sui et al., 2020</xref>). However, the functions and associated mechanisms of the role of most lncRNAs in glaucoma are not completely clear yet.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="s2-6-3">
<label>2.6.3</label>
<title>CircRNAs</title>
<p>Similarly, circRNAs are closed-loop molecules that sequester miRNAs to regulate gene expression (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B80">Wawrzyniak et al., 2018</xref>). A recent study demonstrated that the circRNA <italic>ZRANB1</italic> is expressed in glial cells and it negatively regulates miR-217, promoting M&#xfc;ller cell proliferation and RGC apoptosis (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B79">Wang et al., 2018</xref>). The expression of c<italic>ZRANB1</italic> was upregulated in glaucoma-induced retinal degeneration, and its knockdown provided a protective effect by reducing retinal gliosis and RGC apoptosis. This effect was reversed by overexpression of RUNX2 (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B79">Wang et al., 2018</xref>). Targeting this c<italic>ZRANB1</italic>/miR-217/RUNX2 network has neuroprotective potential (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B79">Wang et al., 2018</xref>). Recent research has identified some candidate circRNAs in ocular hypertension glaucoma models by high-throughput sequencing (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B12">Chen et al., 2020</xref>); however, the role of most circRNAs in glaucoma remains to be elucidated (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B13">Choudhari et al., 2025</xref>).</p>
</sec>
</sec>
</sec>
<sec id="s3">
<label>3</label>
<title>Translational and clinical potential</title>
<p>The epigenetic mechanisms discussed in this review have significant translational and clinical potential to improve glaucoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="F2">Figure 2</xref>). Epigenetic aging derived from blood samples (EpiScore) could serve as non-invasive biomarkers of disease susceptibility (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B56">Medeiros et al., 2025</xref>). Likewise, DNA methylation profiles (e.g., hypermethylation of <italic>LOXL1</italic> in PXG or <italic>CDKN2B</italic> in NTG) and circulating miRNA panels in aqueous humor, tears, or plasma may enable early detection and differentiation between glaucoma subtypes (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B25">Greene et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">Burdon et al., 2018</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B54">Martinez and Peplow, 2022</xref>). The inherent reversible nature of epigenetic modifications makes them attractive drug targets for clinical intervention. For instance, the epigenetic reprogramming of RGCs using the OSK approach could be the future paradigm for glaucoma treatment to promote RGC survival and restore vision (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B50">Lu et al., 2020</xref>; <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B37">Karg et al., 2023</xref>). Similarly, with the demonstrated proof-of-concept, GDF7 neutralization might emerge as a promising anti-fibrotic therapy in glaucoma (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B76">Wan et al., 2021</xref>). In addition, the development of key epigenetic enzyme inhibitors (e.g., DNMT or HDAC inhibitors) and RNA-based therapies (miRNA antagonists) may precisely rectify dysregulated glaucoma pathways in the TM and retina, to reduce fibrosis, lower IOP, and protect the RGCs.</p>
<fig id="F2" position="float">
<label>FIGURE 2</label>
<caption>
<p>Translational and clinical potential of epigenetics in glaucoma. Schematic representation of the pathways through which epigenetic research is transitioning from mechanistic insight to clinical application, highlighting opportunities in diagnostics, therapeutics, and personalized care.</p>
</caption>
<graphic xlink:href="fgene-17-1781271-g002.tif">
<alt-text content-type="machine-generated">Three-section infographic summarizes advances in glaucoma: diagnostic potential highlights blood-based epigenetic clocks, DNA methylation signatures, and miRNA panels; therapeutic opportunities note reversible epigenetics, OSK, GDF7, DNMT/TET, and miRNA mimics; personalized care emphasizes integrating genetic and epigenetic profiling for subtype-specific biomarkers and therapies. Summary boxes below reinforce non-invasive biomarkers, drug targets, and methylation profiles for subtype-specific treatment.</alt-text>
</graphic>
</fig>
</sec>
<sec id="s4">
<label>4</label>
<title>Challenges and future perspectives</title>
<p>Despite the exciting avenues of epigenetics, there exist several challenges to effectively translate the potential of epigenetics to patient care. The current evidence is mostly based on preclinical and small-scale human studies, highlighting the need to validate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of biomarkers like EpiScore, DNA methylations, and miRNA panels in a diverse population-based longitudinal cohorts. To address these challenges, future research must utilize longitudinal studies and Mendelian randomization to ascertain whether these epigenetic marks are a primary drivers of glaucoma or are secondary consequences of the disease process and cellular stress. Integrating multi-omics data (genomics, epigenomics, and transcriptomics) will be essential to validate these markers as causative agents of disease progression. Furthermore, the high degree of tissue-specific origins of epigenetic changes also presents a significant problem. Consequently, mechanistic studies are required to determine if these changes in accessible samples, such as blood or tears, accurately reflect localized changes in the TM or the optic nerve.</p>
<p>Development of advanced ocular drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticle-based eye drops or viral vectors for CRISPR-based epigenetic editing, is highly crucial for safe and effective application of epigenetic modulators (e.g., OSK factors, <italic>GDF7</italic>, DNMT/HDAC inhibitors, miRNA mimics). Additionally, studies to investigate the effect of environmental factors like diet, exercise, and lifestyle on the ocular epigenetics would be vital steps towards preventative medicine. The ultimate goal will be to incorporate validated genetic and epigenetic data with routine clinical markers, such as IOP, visual fields, and optical coherence tomography, to pave the way for personalized medicine in glaucoma.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="conclusion" id="s5">
<label>5</label>
<title>Conclusion</title>
<p>In conclusion, epigenetics redefines our understanding of glaucoma from a static pressure disorder to a modifiable disease at the interface of genetics and environment. Although there are challenges in terms of validation, causality, and drug delivery, the reversible nature of epigenetic mechanisms provides a powerful therapeutic opportunity. Future studies are needed to address these limitations to utilize epigenetics as a source of novel biomarkers, specific drug targets, and personalized care strategies to prevent vision loss beyond IOP control alone.</p>
</sec>
</body>
<back>
<sec sec-type="author-contributions" id="s6">
<title>Author contributions</title>
<p>AK: Writing &#x2013; original draft, Supervision, Conceptualization, Writing &#x2013; review and editing. TS: Writing &#x2013; review and editing, Data curation. TA: Writing &#x2013; review and editing, Data curation. SA-O: Resources, Writing &#x2013; review and editing, Conceptualization.</p>
</sec>
<ack>
<title>Acknowledgements</title>
<p>The authors would like to express their appreciation to Al-Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Sultan for his valuable support.</p>
</ack>
<sec sec-type="COI-statement" id="s8">
<title>Conflict of interest</title>
<p>The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="ai-statement" id="s9">
<title>Generative AI statement</title>
<p>The author(s) declared that generative AI was not used in the creation of this manuscript.</p>
<p>Any alternative text (alt text) provided alongside figures in this article has been generated by Frontiers with the support of artificial intelligence and reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, including review by the authors wherever possible. If you identify any issues, please contact us.</p>
</sec>
<sec sec-type="disclaimer" id="s10">
<title>Publisher&#x2019;s note</title>
<p>All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.</p>
</sec>
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