Role of Oxidative Stress in Retinal Disease and the Early Intervention Strategies: A Review

Abstract

The retina, owing to its cellular anatomy and physical location, is susceptible to generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are associated with several major retinal diseases. When ROS exceeds the body’s natural antioxidants, the retina is in a state of oxidative stress, which is recognized as the pathogenesis of retinal diseases. The early stage of the pathogenic process is an adaptive change in which oxidative stress and endogenous defense mechanisms occur. If no treatment is applied, the retinal diseases will progress to the pathological stage with neuronal and vascular dysfunction or damage and even blindness. This review summarizes the role of oxidative stress in several common retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and retinopathy of prematurity. In addition, we discuss the early intervention strategies for these diseases. An outline is provided to identify potential intervention targets for further research. Early intervention for retinal diseases is necessary and urgent and may offer hope to improve patients’ quality of life through functional vision.

Activation of Heme Oxygenase-1 by Mangiferin in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Contributes to Blocking Oxidative Damage

“…High levels of ROS due to oxidative stress resulting from an imbalance in cellular redox homeostasis are directly involved in retinal damage and are therefore considered potential therapeutic targets for blocking retinal diseases ( Wang et al ., 2022a ; Zhang et al ., 2023 ). RPE cells exposed to a high oxidative stress environment are susceptible to defense against DNA damage, cellular senescence and apoptosis, and loss of antioxidant capacity underlies retinal degenerative diseases including age-related macular degeneration ( Tong et al ., 2022 ; Zhang et al ., 2023 ).…”

β-Asarone Alleviates High-Glucose-Induced Oxidative Damage via Inhibition of ROS Generation and Inactivation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

“…Elevated glucose levels are a potent pathogenic feature of DR [39,40]. Excess ROS production due to hyperglycemia initiates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which are mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DR [3,7]. Antioxidants with antiinflammatory effects exert inhibitory effects on the onset and progression of DR [41][42][43].…”

“…Hyperglycemia plays a crucial role in DR pathogenesis [1,2]. Oxidative and inflammatory stress induced by hyperglycemia are involved in the initiation and progression of DR. Accumulation of ROS promote increased oxidative stress due to hyperglycemia, is a key factor in DR-associated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell damage [3][4][5]. Elevated intracellular ROS levels trigger inflammation and lead to the occurrence and progression of chronic diseases, such as DR. Mitochondria are the major site of ROS generation, which directly stimulate pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and promote pathological conditions [6].…”

The relationship between dietary patterns and ophthalmic disease

“…As patients age, the burden of oxidative damage increases, while the intrinsic efficacy of reparative systems and antioxidant capacity wanes, thus necessitating an increase in external antioxidant molecules to support the ageing eye. The retina is particularly susceptible to oxidative stress because of its prolonged exposure to environmental insults leading to photo-oxidation, high oxygen consumption and high levels of ROS acting on the retina's natural polyunsaturated fatty acid content [24]. Oxidative damage has been highlighted as a major contributor to the pathogenesis of AMD in addition to its relationship with other pathways such as angiogenesis and inflammation [25].…”