Retinal vasculature

The retinal vasculature consists of the arteries, veins, and capillaries that supply blood to the retina. Its primary roles are to provide oxygen and nutrients to retinal tissue, remove metabolic waste, and maintain homeostasis. The structure involves several interconnected layers: a superficial vascular plexus (SVP), intermediate and deep capillary plexuses, and the radial peripapillary capillary plexus. Pathologic changes in this vascular network can lead to retinal disease, including diabetic retinopathy, vein/artery occlusion, and neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. While the health and imaging of the retinal vasculature are critical clinical endpoints, the vasculature itself is not considered a standalone drug target. Rather, interventions are aimed at underlying molecular drivers (e.g., VEGF in neovascularization), which in turn affect retinal vascular structure and function[1][4][6]. Key clarification: "Retinal vasculature" is not a canonical molecular target (such as a receptor or enzyme) for drug discovery; it is an anatomical or tissue-level structure. The actual druggable targets are molecular mediators (like VEGF or PDGF) involved in regulating angiogenesis or vascular permeability in the retina[4].

Other names

Retinal blood vesselsRetinal vascular networkRetinal vascular systemRetinal vascular tree