Modulating diet to treat retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and diabetic retinopathy are diseases that damage the retinal microvasculature and can result in vision loss and blindness due to vascular leakage, vaso-obliteration and neovascularization. Unfortunately, there are no preventative treatments for ROP and diabetic retinopathy, with treatments administered to the eye when damage to the retina is established. ROP is a disease of the developing retinal vasculature that occurs in some babies who are born early and small. Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age. 382 million people around the globe have diabetes mellitus and this number is predicted to reach almost 600 million by 2030. Australia has not been spared: 250 people develop diabetes each day and 1.7 million are currently living with the disease. Moreover, indigenous Australians are 8 times more likely to develop diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.