ReviewPost screenMimicking the ocular environment for the study of inflammatory posterior eye disorders

•AMD models can replicate oxidative damage or abnormal neovascularization.•Glaucoma models can mimic increased IOP, inflammation and RGC loss.•Studies using current models have revealed new therapeutic targets.•Not one model can recapitulate all aspects of these ocular disorders.•Comprehensive disease phenotyping will facilitate the generation of a 'super' model.

The common inflammatory posterior eye disorders, age-related degeneration and glaucoma often lead to irreversible vision loss. Current treatments do not target early stages or prevent disease progression. Consequently, the identification of biomarkers or early disease models that can accurately mimic the pathological processes involved is essential. Although none of the existing models can recapitulate all pathological aspects of these disorders, these models have revealed new therapeutic targets. Efforts to accurately phenotype eye disorders at various disease stages are warranted to generate a 'super' model that can replicate the microenvironment of the eye and associated pathological hallmarks effectively.