Primary Retinal Detachment

Retinal Detachment Repair: Outlook for the Future 205
Fig. 10.16. Ribozyme cleavage of RNA associated with cell proliferation
role of other cellular pathways in proliferation and cellular damage
is being explored by many basic scientists. We have yet to take full
advantage of molecular drug design to inhibit the pathways involved
in PVR. Similarly, as we elucidate the roles of cytokines and
develop non-toxic inhibitors of these molecules, we can use this
knowledge to inhibit (Fig. 10.17).
Similarly, our understanding of what damages the retina after
retinal detachment and new drugs to stabilize this delicate neural
tissue will be developed, which will also result in better visual outcomes,
even in more long-standing macula off retinal detachment.
We can now design functional peptide-based drugs and will be
able to incorporate signaling peptides into nanofibers (Fig. 10.18)
and engineer an instructional matrix for stem cells to replace and
repopulate maculae with damaged photoreceptor elements [10]. In
vivo fluorescence staining and other cell and molecular techniques
are allowing us to visualize pathology in living cells as we see here,
using fluorescence microscopy in vivo to follow cell motion with
cytoskeletal marker staining. Understanding these fundamental
processes will help prevent and treat intraocular proliferative diseases,
such as PVR.