Emerging drugs for diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is prevalent even among "well controlled" diabetics, and remains the commonest cause of visual loss in working age adults. Current evidence based treatments, including intensive glycemic and hypertensive control and laser photocoagulation, rarely improves visual outcomes in those with established DR. There has been an increasing focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in DR, and targeted therapeutic interventions to temper their damaging effects. METHODS: We review potential targets and emerging therapies for DR, including treatments currently in clinical trials. RESULTS: Emerging therapies including inhibition of aldose reductase/polyol pa..