Vitamin D: Implications for ocular disease and therapeutic potential.
Vitamin D is a multifunctional hormone that is now known to play a significant role in a variety of biological functions in addition to its traditional role in regulating calcium homeostasis. There are a large number of studies demonstrating that adequate vitamin D levels are important in maintaining health and show that vitamin D is able to be utilized at local tissue sites. In the eye, we have increasing evidence of the association between disease and vitamin D. In this narrative review, we summarize recent findings on vitamin D and its relationship to various ocular pathologies and the therapeutic potential for some of these, as well as examine the basic science studies that demonstrate that vitamin D is biologically relevant in the eye.
The Ocular Surface Institute, University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-2020, USA. Electronic address: rose@reins.org.
Rose Y
RY
Reins
The Ocular Surface Institute, University of Houston College of Optometry, 4901 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX 77204-2020, USA. Electronic address: AMcdermott@OPTOMETRY.UH.EDU.
Alison M
AM
McDermott
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium
Anti-inflammatory; Deficiency; Genetic variations; Ocular disease; Vitamin D