Diabetes and Retinal Changes: Exploring Mechanisms of Neurovascular Alterations

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Abstract Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus and one of the leading causes of visual impairment globally. Beyond vascular pathology, recent evidence highlights the significant role of neurovascular interactions and neurodegeneration in DR progression.
Methods: This review consolidates findings from studies utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT), electroretinography (ERG), and advanced histopathological techniques to investigate the interplay between neuronal and vascular alterations in DR.
Results: Neurodegeneration, including ganglion cell loss and retinal thinning, was evident in early-stage DR. Vascular changes, such as capillary dropout and neovascularization, were found to exacerbate neurodegeneration through ischemia and oxidative stress.
Conclusion: The integration of neurodegeneration and vascular pathology highlights the complexity of DR and the need for multimodal diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to mitigate vision loss in diabetic patients.