Eye drops effective against diabetic retinopathy, shows Catalan-led study

A European project led by a chief researcher at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has shown for the first time in humans that neuroprotective eye drops are effective for treating diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can cause blindness.

The breakthrough, led by the head of the Diabetes and Metabolism research group, Dr Rafael Simó, found that applying eye drops is effective because it allows the medicine to reach the retina, acting on the neurons there and avoiding their degeneration.

The discovery means that it will now be possible to treat the illness in its initial stages. About 30% of diabetic patients suffer from some degree of diabetic retinopathy, which continues to be the main cause of blindness among people of working age in developed countries.