Animal Models of Retinal Ischemia

Ischemic disorders of the retina constitute a common cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide. Retinal ischemia is a disorder initially caused by an imbalance between the supply of metabolic substrates to the retina and its demand for nutrients. If treatment cannot be implemented to correct this imbalance, the result is irreversible ischemic and apoptosis-related cascades leading to cell death. A number of animal models are available for both studying the mechanisms of retinal ischemia and exploring potential treatments to prevent neuronal degeneration. However, the vascular supply and induction procedures of retinal ischemia in animal models must be better understood for application to human disorders.