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Preprint REVIEW | doi:10.20944/preprints202303.0500.v1

The Role of Autophagy, Oxidative Damage, and Antioxidants in Eye Diseases, and the Need for Government Interventions and Education to Prevent Eye Diseases in the Digital Era

Sakthishreenidhi Manivel

Subject: Medicine And Pharmacology, Ophthalmology Keywords: Oxidative stress and cell death; Reactive oxygen species; ROS; ROS cell death; autophagy; role of antioxidants; eye disease; cornea; lens; epithelium; retinal ganglion cells; retinal pigment epithelium; macular degeneration; antioxidants in the macula; oxidative stress prevention with antioxidants; lifestyle changes; digital eye strain; glaucoma; cataracts; dry eye disease; computer vision syndrome; digital eye strain; diabetic retinopathy; Vitamin A; Vitamin C; copper; glutathione; zinc; selenium; magnesium; blue light damage; UV light damage; blue light reactive oxygen species; autophagy; ferroptosis; ROS cell death; superoxide dismutase; optic nerve gliomas; food deserts; myopia; free radicals

Online: 29 March 2023 (03:33:55 CEST)

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Increased screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic and the accelerated incorporation of technology into daily practices have directly contributed to the increased prevalence of eye disease. The human eye is not built for continual technological use and must adjust to exposure to digital screens. Overexposure to technology can result in eye strain and an increased risk of eye diseases such as myopia with complications later in life, including retinal tears, cataracts, and macular degeneration. As vision and ocular diseases become more prevalent, the study of eye diseases, including their causes and treatments, is especially relevant. There is a need to prevent ocular diseases before they become a burden to individuals, their families, and their communities by better understanding the pathophysiology of ocular diseases. Several ocular diseases are thought to be caused by imbalances in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy. ROS refers to a class of highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules that can undergo damaging reactions with other molecules in the cell. Autophagy is a cellular process of self-eating whereby damaged, harmful, or dead material in cells is broken down to maintain cellular homeostasis. This paper discusses the role of ROS and autophagy in the pathogenesis of computer vision syndrome (CVS), digital eye strain (DES), myopia, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), optic nerve crush injury (OCN), optic nerve gliomas, and retinoblastoma. Lifestyle changes such as limiting screen time, ensuring adequate exposure to evening sunlight, and using blue light protection measures or protective eyewear are important in the prevention of eye disease. Nutrition also contributes significantly to eye health. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants may help to prevent ROS and autophagy imbalance-induced eye disease. Medical and surgical treatments become necessary when preventative measures fail. This paper also addresses how government measures to decrease the onset of eye disease, including targeted programs to increase access to fresh vegetables and fruits in food deserts, are a critical macro-level avenue to reduce eye disease prevalence in the US, which according to the National Eye Institute, costs $139 billion yearly.

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