Research Progress in the Neurovascular Unit Impairment and Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common complications of diabetes and is a leading cause of blindness. Traditionally, DR was considered primarily a microvascular disease. However, with the progress of research, it is now believed that damage to the neurovascular unit plays a key role in the early stages of DR. An updated understanding of neurovascular unit damage facilitates early intervention of retinal function and control of DR progression. This article summarizes the latest understanding of neurovascular unit damage in DR and the latest methods for treating DR, and looks forward to more new treatment strategies in the future.