The cells that support the blood vessels, the endothelial cells, are weakened and abnormal, so the blood vessels are not only permeable, they can close. The retina, starved for oxygen, releases various stimuli that prompt blood vessel growth which can lead to bleeding and scarring resulting in vision loss. Protein kinase C is one of those stimuli and the new oral medication, which will be taken daily, may inhibit eye disease progression, Dr. Marcus said. The best available treatment today for excessive, leaking blood vessels is laser therapy, which works well, but can destroy healthy eye tissue as well, resulting in problems such as blind spots or decreased night vision. But Dr. Marcus hopes the protein kinase C inhibitor will help patients avoid laser surgery by halting disease progression.
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.
Participants in the four-year study must be adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes who have moderate to severe eye changes related to diabetes and are not pregnant. Participants will receive study-related care free and be compensated for their time. Dr. Marcus encourages all patients with diabetes to get a yearly eye exam by an ophthalmologist so that any impact on the eye can be detected early. All rights reserved.