Long thought to be caused by blood vessel complications in the Retina, new studies suggest that Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults may actually be the result of a vitamin A deficiency in the eye. DR is a complication of diabetes, and puts diabetics at increased risk for Retinal Detachment and Vitreous Hemorrhage, in which leaking blood fills the back of the eye and blocks light from reaching the Retina. Although the only way to slow DR progression has been through controlling blood glucose levels through diet, exercise, and medication, new studies in mice suggest that administering a vitamin A analog, or synthetic version of vitamin A, can quickly reverse diabetic vision impairment with only one dose. If this research translates to similar findings in the human eye, we may be on the verge of a major breakthrough in preventing one of the most prevalent forms of blindness. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2ScqH5X
