Category: Eye

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that metformin, a common diabetes med, might help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Western countries.

In a study of 2,000 people with diabetes, those taking metformin were 37% less likely to develop intermediate AMD over 5 years. The researchers analysed eye photos and adjusted for factors like age and sex.

This is a big deal, as AMD affects 1.1-1.8 million people in the UK and costs £11.1 billion annually. And currently, there’s no treatment for geographic atrophy (dry AMD) in the UK and Europe.

Researchers at Wenzhou Medical University and the University of Coimbra have made a breakthrough in detecting early-stage retinal damage in diabetes using AI-inspired texture analysis. This method can identify subtle changes in retinal tissue before any visible signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR) appear, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and reducing the risk of blindness.

The study used optical coherence tomography (OCT) images to analyze retinal texture in diabetic rats and found significant changes in texture metrics, such as autocorrelation and homogeneity, even when structural and molecular damage was minimal. These changes occurred before any major inflammation or vascular leakage was detectable.

The researchers believe this technology could lead to the development of AI-assisted diagnostic tools that can automatically screen for preclinical DR based on retinal texture signatures. This could enable ophthalmologists to identify high-risk patients before permanent vision damage occurs, allowing for earlier treatment and better outcomes.

The study’s findings have significant implications for the early detection and treatment of DR, which affects over 130 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. Further clinical trials are needed to validate the results in human subjects.

A recent study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting suggests that semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, may provide powerful protection against diabetic retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes that can lead to sight loss. The study found that semaglutide exerted antioxidant effects that protected retinal cells against damage in diabetes-like conditions.

Key Findings

• Protection against cell death: Semaglutide-treated cells were up to twice as likely to survive as untreated cells.
• Reduced oxidative stress: Semaglutide decreased markers of oxidative stress, including apoptosis, mitochondrial superoxide production, and accumulation of advanced glycation end-products.
• Enhanced antioxidant defenses: Semaglutide upregulated genes involved in antioxidant production, indicating potential repair of damage to retinal cells.

Implications

The study’s findings suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide may be effective in protecting against diabetic retinopathy, particularly in the early stages. Clinical trials are needed to confirm these protective effects in patients and explore the potential for GLP-1 receptor agonists to slow or halt disease progression.

Significance

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults, affecting over 90% of people with type 1 diabetes and 50-60% of those with type 2 diabetes. The potential for GLP-1 receptor agonists to protect against this condition could have significant implications for the management of diabetes and prevention of vision loss.