New insights into the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy: potential cell-specific therapeutic targets.

Diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision impairment, is classically defined by its vascular lesions. This review examines how diabetes affects vascular cells, as well as neurons, macroglia, and microglia. The cellular and clinical elements of diabetic retinopathy have many features of chronic inflammation. Understanding the individual cell-specific and global inflammatory changes in the retina may lead to novel therapeutic approaches to prevent vision loss.