Molecular Mechanism, Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal and Optic Nerve Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Multiple disease processes can affect the retina and/or the optic nerve. Retinal diseases like diabetic retinophathy or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the leading causes of blindness worldwide. But also common optic nerve diseases, including glaucoma, optic neuritis, and ischemic optic neuropathy can lead to visual impairment. These diseases represent a major socioeconomic burden and impair patients’ quality of life. Due to an aging society, more and more people will be affected in the next years. Despite the prevalence of these diseases, the precise pathogenesic processes involved are still unknown and warrant further research. Complex disease models (cell or organ cultures as well as animal models), are needed in order to better understand these pathologies and enable the development of novel or modified treatment options for these diseases to prevent blidness. This Research Topic aims to summarize current knowledge of pathologies of retinal and optic nerve diseases. It further focuses on discovery of novel treatment options.

Prof. Dr. Stephanie C. Joachim
Dr. Bettina Hohberger
Dr. Julie Sanderson
Prof. Dr. Jan Darius Unterlauft
Dr. Lauren K. Wareham
Topic Editors