A new drug treatment could help protect people with diabetes from sight loss by targeting early damage before it becomes irreversible. The research, led by Queen's University Belfast and funded by Diabetes UK, offers a potential breakthrough in preventing vision loss for millions living with diabetes.
Diabetic retinal disease is a common cause of vision loss in adults of working age. It occurs when high blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerve cells in the retina, the part of the eye that detects light, and can lead to serious sight problems and blindness without treatment.
Early intervention approach
Professor Tim Curtis from Queen's University Belfast said: "Diabetic retinal disease often begins without symptoms, with early damage to the retina's nerve cells and blood vessels happening long before people notice any problems with their vision." He explained that current treatments tend to target later stages when significant and often irreversible damage has already occurred.
The research team tested a drug called 2-HDP using a rat model of diabetes and found it protected the retina's nerve cells and blood vessels while reducing inflammation. The drug works by neutralising harmful molecules that accumulate in the retina during diabetes and contribute to sight loss.
Promising results and future potential
The researchers examined retinal tissue from people with diabetes and found the same toxic molecules that 2-HDP targets in the animal studies. Dr Josy Augustine said: "Our study reveals a potential new treatment to protect vision in people with diabetes by tackling early damage in the retina before it becomes permanent."
Computer simulations showed the drug can easily enter cells within the body, raising the possibility of developing tablet-based treatments in the future. Augustine added: "This could lead to a new generation of drugs aimed at reducing visual impairment and enhancing quality of life for millions of people worldwide."
Industry response and research team
Mikayla Hu from Diabetes UK said: "Vision problems and sight loss are devastating for people with diabetes and current treatments don't tackle retinal changes soon enough." She praised the study's potential for clearing harmful substances from the retina and intervening much earlier than currently possible.
The study was led by Professor Tim Curtis and Dr Josy Augustine from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen's University Belfast. Collaborators included researchers from King's College London, the Medway School of Pharmacy and the Medical University of South Carolina.
The research results have been published in the journal Diabetologia. Curtis said the breakthrough highlights the importance of early intervention in diabetic retinal disease and the pressing need for new, targeted treatments that can protect vision before lasting damage occurs.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
