title: Retinal Failure in Diabetes: a Feature of Retinal Sensory Neuropathy.
abstract: Physiologic adaptations mediate normal responses to short-term and long-term stresses to ensure organ function. Organ failure results if adaptive responses fail to resolve persistent stresses or maladaptive reactions develop. The retinal neurovascular unit likewise undergoes adaptive responses to diabetes resulting in a retinal sensory neuropathy analogous to other sensory neuropathies. Vision-threatening diabetic retinal neuropathy results from unremitting metabolic and inflammatory stresses, leading to macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, states of "retinal failure." Current regulatory strategies focus primarily on the retinal failure stages, but new diagnostic modalities and understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy may facilitate earlier treatment to maintain vision in persons with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA. ellygray@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Ellyn J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA. tomwgard@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Diabetes; Neuropathy; Renal failure; Retinopathy