Pathophysiology of Neurodegeneration in Retinal Diseases as Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy and Potential Mechanisms of Retinal Neuroprotection

Abstract

Retinal cell neurodegeneration relates to glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. Early stages of such disease are preceded by retinal neurodegeneration or angiogenesis in retinal vessels. It is a well established fact that total or partial vision loss is caused by abnormal retinal degeneration of the photo receptors or the inner retinal neurons, as well as unusual growth of cells forming extra retinal venules and arterioles. However the reasons and mechanisms behind the abnormal retinal cell deaths or unusual cell growths remains unknown and is considered an area of active research. This paper reviews contemporary research on retinal disease citing reasons for a typical retinal vessel cell growth, unusual death of retinal cells, and ways to repair the retinal damaged cells under various degrees of impairment. Knowledge about the mechanism behind the sudden change in cell pattern behavior will help to track and better understand the reasons behind early start and rate of progression for such retinal diseases, and how to harness an quick control over disease progression, with help to prognosis and complete recovery. Neurodegeneration of RGC (retinal ganglion cell) is due to Glutamate excitoxicity and a few other factors. Neovascularization occurs from increased VEGF presence in vitreous of eye. Precise cellular repair is done on retina using derived information.