Do photoreceptor cells cause the development of retinal vascular disease?

The retinal vasculature is affected in a number of clinically important retinopathies, including diabetic retinopathy. There has been a considerable amount of research into the pathogenesis of retinal microvascular diseases, but the potential contribution of the most abundant cell population in the retina, photoreceptor cells, has been largely overlooked. This review summarizes ongoing research suggesting that photoreceptor cells play a critical role in the development of retinal vascular disease in diabetic retinopathy and other retinopathies.