Neuroprotection in Early Diabetic Retinal Disease Using Eyedrop Delivery

Diabetic retinal disease (DRD) has classically been defined as a microvascular complication of diabetes; however, the recent evidence highlighted the key role of neuronal degeneration during the earliest stages of its pathogenesis. Therefore, neuroprotection has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent disease progression. Topical administration via eyedrops represents a non-invasive approach to deliver neuroprotective agents directly to the retina. This review summarizes the current advances in the field of neuroprotective therapies against early DRD with a special focus on topical delivery, including preclinical and clinical evidence, while discussing the relevance of the transscleral route of absorption in all of them. In this review, the most promising neuroprotective compounds under development will be discussed, highlighting the opportunity that they represent for treating early stages of DRD.