Abstract:

Autophagy is a kind of cell status with which cells can protect themselves from unfavorable micro-environment. Eukaryotic cells clear accumulation of abnormal proteins, damaged or redundant organelles and microorganisms by autophagy to maintain cellular homeostasis. Increasing evidences had shown that autophagy is closely associated with the pathogenesis and progression of a number of ocular disorders including cataract, corneal dystrophy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases. We expect regulating cell autophagy by small molecular compound (activator or depressor of autophagy) or durg, which will provide new treatment strategies for eye diseases.   (Int Rev Ophthalmol,2015,39:309.314)