Diabetic retinopathy: Seeing beyond glucose-induced microvascular disease

David A. Antonetti, Alistair J. Barber, Sarah K. Bronson, Willard M. Freeman, Thomas W. Gardner, Leonard S. Jefferson, Mark Kester, Scot R. Kimball, J. Kyle Krady, Kathryn F. LaNoue, Christopher C. Norbury, Patrick G. Quinn, Lakshman Sandirasegarane, Ian A. Simpson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

680 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy remains a frightening prospect to patients and frustrates physicians. Destruction of damaged retina by photocoagulation remains the primary treatment nearly 50 years after its introduction. The diabetes pandemic requires new approaches to understand the pathophysiology and improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of retinopathy. This perspective considers how the unique anatomy and physiology of the retina may predispose it to the metabolic stresses of diabetes. The roles of neural retinal alterations and impaired retinal insulin action in the pathogenesis of early retinopathy and the mechanisms of vision loss are emphasized. Potential means to overcome limitations of current animal models and diagnostic testing are also presented with the goal of accelerating therapies to manage retinopathy in the face of ongoing diabetes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2401-2411
Number of pages11
JournalDiabetes
Volume55
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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