Dear Colleagues,
Most living organisms have developed an aerobic metabolism, using oxygen as the main trigger for the metabolic reactions used to build the necessary constituents for life. However, in this process oxygen can generate highly reactive molecules known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are harmful to cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. The eye is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to its exposure to light and oxygen-rich environments. Oxidative stress can affect tissues in the anterior and posterior segments of the eye, possibly leading to pathologies such as dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, AMD, diabetic retinopathy or oxidative retinopathies (ROP) typical of premature newborns. It's important to note that while oxidative stress can have negative consequences, it is a normal part of cellular metabolism. The key is to maintain a balance between ROS production and antioxidant defenses to minimize the damaging effects of oxidative stress. However, there are genetic conditions in which the antioxidant defense is insufficient, so that oxidative stress can contribute to the development and progression of several hereditary diseases of the retina. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease, Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) and juvenile retinoschisis are the main examples of such pathologies.
The aim of this special issue is to focus on the molecular mechanisms which lead from oxidative stress to overt pathology, and the different therapeutic strategies that can be implemented in order to prevent, limit or treat the damage caused by oxidative stress in the eye, taking into account the limits of systemic or topic administration.
Manuscripts accepted can span from new hypotheses on the molecular mechanisms, formulation of new products to improve the bioavailability in the eye of the active components, as well as preclinical and clinical biochemical investigations addressing the efficacy of old and new treatments for such conditions.
Dr. Dario Rusciano
Guest Editor
Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://imr.propub.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, reviews as well as short communications are preferred. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office to announce on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) in this open access journal is 2500 USD. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.