Diabetic eye disease: novel therapeutic strategies

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a significant cause of vision loss and preventable blindness in adults worldwide. The currently available treatments, which include intravitreal anti-VEGF agents and steroids, laser photocoagulation, and vitrectomy, reflect the complex pathogenesis of DR. Even though clinical benefits are reported, none of these options is yet to entirely mitigate the progression or reverse retinal damage in DR. Therefore, several alternative molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of DR and novel routes of administration have been considered as potential therapeutic targets for the condition. This chapter discusses the current status of novel treatment strategies under investigation for DR and diabetic macular edema.