Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
04:36
An Assay to Detect Protection of the Retinal Vasculature from Diabetes-Related Death in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2024
Eye disease and the older diabetic
1Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, St. Louis VA Medical Center, St. Louis, MO 63125, USA. tumosan@slu.edu
Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|August 2, 2008
Summary
Elderly individuals with diabetes face a higher risk of vision loss and blindness. This article explores the link between diabetes and eye conditions, discussing current and emerging treatments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Elderly individuals with diabetes are 1.5 times more likely to experience vision loss and blindness compared to their non-diabetic peers.
- Diabetic retinopathy causes legal blindness in 12,000-24,000 US patients annually.
- Diabetes exacerbates other ocular conditions like dry eye syndrome, cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the synergistic relationship between diabetes and various ocular/periocular conditions.
- To present current standards of care for slowing vision loss in diabetic patients.
- To highlight novel research strategies for potentially reversing vision loss.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on diabetes and eye disease.
- Analysis of epidemiological data regarding vision loss in diabetic populations.
- Discussion of clinical guidelines and emerging therapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- Diabetes significantly increases the risk and severity of vision-threatening eye conditions.
- A complex interplay exists between diabetic control and the progression of comorbid eye diseases.
- Current treatments can slow, but not always halt, vision loss progression.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of diabetes is crucial for preventing vision loss.
- Integrated care addressing both diabetes and ocular health is essential for the elderly population.
- Ongoing research offers hope for innovative treatments to restore vision in diabetic patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
01:22Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency, resistance, or both. Prolonged hyperglycemia disrupts metabolic homeostasis and leads to acute and chronic complications.Acute ComplicationsAcute complications result from sudden metabolic imbalance.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mainly appears in type 1 diabetes but may also develop in type 2 diabetes, particularly under extreme stress. It arises from severe insulin deficiency,...
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is based on...