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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Quantification of Vascular Parameters in Whole Mount Retinas of Mice with Non-Proliferative and Proliferative Retinopathies
Published on: March 12, 2022
Vascular and Neuronal Protection in the Developing Retina: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Retinopathy of
Jessica K W Tsang1, Jin Liu1, Amy C Y Lo2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness. This review explores potential therapeutic agents and neuroprotective pathways to preserve retinal function and reduce damage in affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant retinal vascular disease in preterm infants.
- Increased survival of very-low-birth-weight infants has led to a rise in ROP incidence.
- ROP is a major cause of preventable childhood blindness globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and potential therapeutic agents for retinopathy of prematurity.
- To explore neuroprotective pathways for preserving retinal function in ROP.
- To identify safe and effective treatments for ROP beyond invasive retinal ablation.
Main Methods:
- Review of cell culture studies on ROP.
- Analysis of animal experiments investigating ROP treatments.
- Examination of clinical studies on ROP interventions and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Various agents show efficacy in reducing retinal damage in preclinical and clinical settings.
- Neuroprotective strategies offer new perspectives for ROP management.
- Current treatments are limited, highlighting the need for novel pharmacological options.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for effective and safe pharmacological treatments for ROP.
- Exploring neuroprotective pathways is crucial for preserving vision in preterm infants.
- Further research into novel therapeutic agents is essential for combating ROP-related blindness.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a common retinal disease in preterm babies. To prolong the lives of preterm babies, high oxygen is provided to mimic the oxygen level in the intrauterine environment for postnatal organ development. However, hyperoxia-hypoxia induced pathological events occur when babies return to room air, leading to ROP with neuronal degeneration and vascular abnormality that affects retinal functions. With advances in neonatal intensive care, it is no longer uncommon for increased survival of very-low-birth-weight preterm infants, which, therefore, increased the incidence of ROP. ROP is now a major cause of preventable childhood blindness worldwide. Current proven treatment for ROP is limited to invasive retinal ablation, inherently destructive to the retina. The lack of pharmacological treatment for ROP creates a great need for effective and safe therapies in these developing infants. Therefore, it is essential to identify potential therapeutic agents that may have positive ROP outcomes, especially in preserving retinal functions. This review gives an overview of various agents in their efficacy in reducing retinal damages in cell culture tests, animal experiments and clinical studies. New perspectives along the neuroprotective pathways in the developing retina are also reviewed.
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