Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy is a severe complication of diabetes leading to some degree of vision impairment in long-term diabetes sufferers. Currently, the most successful treatment available for diabetic retinopathy is laser photocoagulation, a therapy that destroys part of the retina to save central vision. The principal aim of laser photocoagulation in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy is to effect regression of abnormal vessels, reduce oxygen tension and reverse angiogenesis in the retina. Although laser photocoagulation has been employed for more than 30 years, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Research is now focused on identifying and understanding these factors, to ultimately develop therapies to protect against the initiation and progression of neovascularisation.
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© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
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Graham, C.E., Binz, N., Shen, WY., Constable, I.J., Rakoczy, E.P. (2006). Laser Photocoagulation: Ocular Research and Therapy in Diabetic Retinopathy. In: Hollyfield, J.G., Anderson, R.E., LaVail, M.M. (eds) Retinal Degenerative Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 572. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-32442-9_29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-32442-9_29
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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