Targeting neovascularization in ischemic retinopathy: recent advances

Abstract

Pathological retinal neovascularization (RNV) is a common microvascular complication in several retinal diseases including retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and central vein occlusion. The current therapeutic modalities of RNV are invasive and although they may slow or halt the progression of the disease, they are unlikely to restore normal acuity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop treatment modalities that are less invasive and thus associated with fewer procedural complications and systemic side effects. This review article summarizes our understanding of the pathophysiology and current treatment of RNV in ischemic retinopathies, lists potential therapeutic targets and provides a framework for the development of future treatment modalities.

Keywords::

• inflammation
• lipoxygenase
• oxidative stress
• PEDF
• PPAR
• retinal neovascularization
• retinopathy
• VEGF

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Al-Shabrawey has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (1R01EY023315-01), Qatar National Research Fund (NPRP 4-1046-3-284), Georgia Regents University’s Bridge Fund and Culver Vision Discovery Institute. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.