The human hereditary retinal degeneration is one of the main cause of irreversible blindness in the world. the mechanisms leading to retinal photoreceptor degeneration are not entirely clear. However, microglia acting as innate immune monitors are found to be activated early in retinal degeneration in many retinitis pigmentosa animal models. These activated microglia are involved in phagocyte rod cell fragments of degenerated retina, and also produce high levels of cytotoxic substances such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which aggravate the death of adjacent healthy photoreceptor cells. It suggests that microglia activation plays an important role in photoreceptor degeneration. At the same time, a series of studies have confirmed that some drugs can prevent or reduce neuronal death and slow the occurrence and progression of retinal degeneration by interfering with abnormal activation of microglia. It is expected to be a new choice for the treatment of hereditary retinal degeneration.
Objective To investigate the morbidity of ocular fundus diseases in Tibetan above 40 in Maqin county, Qinghai Province. Methods A total of 2511 Tibetan above 40 in Maqin county, Qinghai Province were seelected by cluster sampling method. The sampling survey of ocular fundus diseases was performed on the individuals with indirect ophthalmoscope, and the results were compared with the domestic existing epidemiological data. Results Two hundred and thirty five (9.35%) cases were found to have abnormal ocular fundus, and the blindness rate due to the abnormal ocular fundus was 20.5% (80/391 eyes) which was lower than the blindness rate due to cataract (52.5%). Low vision and blindness led by ocular fundus diseases were found in 155 eyes (65.96%)，including 74(47.74%) with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 23 (9.79%) with retinoangiopathy. Conclusions The morbidity of ocular fundus disorder is higher in high plateau than that in backland; AMD and retinoangiopathy are the main diseases leading to blindness. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 321-323)