Arthur J. Sit, M.D., M.S.

Location

SUMMARY

The research of Arthur J. Sit, M.D., M.S., focuses on explaining the causes of glaucoma and finding new diagnostic tools and treatments for the disease. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the United States and worldwide. Elevated eye pressure is the leading risk factor for glaucoma and reduction of eye pressure is the only current treatment available. However, most people with elevated eye pressure do not get glaucoma, and up to half of people with glaucoma get the disease despite having typical eye pressure. Dr. Sit and his research team focus on understanding the reasons for this paradox. He develops new tools for glaucoma risk analysis and identifies new options for treatment.

Focus areas

• Aqueous humor dynamics. Fluid in the eye, called aqueous humor, is constantly produced and removed, maintaining eye shape and pressure. To understand how pressure is generated, Dr. Sit studies why pressure is high in most people with glaucoma and how therapies work to lower it. It is important to measure the parameters that control aqueous humor production and drainage. Dr. Sit's laboratory has developed and uses new techniques for measuring the parameters of aqueous humor dynamics noninvasively in humans. This work leads to a better understanding of how the eye controls pressure, why pressure varies, what parameters are irregular in people with glaucoma and how to optimize treatment for individuals with glaucoma.
• Intraocular pressure fluctuations. Fluctuations in eye pressure may increase the risk of developing glaucoma and experiencing disease progression. However, obtaining information about pressure fluctuations and the effect of treatment is difficult due to the limitations of current devices used to measure eye pressure in people. Dr. Sit's laboratory develops new animal models to continuously measure eye pressure and methods for altering pressure fluctuations. The long-term goal is to explain the effect of reducing pressure fluctuations in people with glaucoma.
• Ocular biomechanics. The tissue properties of the eye are altered in people with glaucoma. However, it is not clear whether this is a predisposition for glaucoma or a response of the eye to elevated pressure. It also is difficult to measure biomechanical properties in living human eyes. Dr. Sit and his collaborators are developing a new noninvasive technique called ultrasound vibroelastography to measure irregularities in the ocular biomechanical properties of people with glaucoma and understand the effects of treatment.

Significance to patient care

The ultimate goal of Dr. Sit's research is to understand the causes of glaucoma and develop new therapies to prevent vision loss and blindness. His previous research has shown that even with optimal treatment, a significant number of people continue to lose vision and go blind. Identifying the factors beyond elevated eye pressure that contribute to glaucoma can lead to new treatment approaches and reduce the burden of vision loss in people with glaucoma.

Professional highlights

• Fellow, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2022-present.
• Executive committee, World Glaucoma Association:
  • Member, 2022-present.
  • Treasurer, 2022-present.
• Research chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 2021-present.
• National Institutes of Health:
  • Principal investigator, Noninvasive Ultrasound Vibro-Elastography For Assessing Ocular Disorders, 2021-2025.
  • Member, study section, Vision Imaging, Bioengineering and Low Vision Technology Development, Special Emphasis Panel, 2022.
  • Member, study section, Small Business, Sensory Technologies, Special Emphasis Panel, 2015-2019.
  • Principal investigator, A Novel Method For Non-Invasive In Vivo Measurement of Ocular Biomechanical Properties and Clinical Significance in Glaucoma, 2015-2018.
• Clinician Scientist Lecturer, American Glaucoma Society, 2024.
• Program co-chair, World Glaucoma Congress, 2019-2023.
• Senior Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2019.