Gender, sex hormones and diabetic retinopathy: A review

Abstract

In recent years, more attention has been paid towards the research in the field of gender specific medicine. The purpose of this review article is to find out the gender alteration in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy and role of sex steroid hormones in the etiopathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Several studies have suggested that the prevalence of type-I diabetes is more common among males than females in post pubertal age group. Sex hormone receptors have been identified in the eye, but the role of sex hormones are involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy, is not well understood. Through this article, we would like to highlight about the sex hormone receptors in various ophthalmic tissues, gender based differences in diabetic retinopathy and the role of gonadal hormones in the development of diabetic retinopathy.