A nice glass of red wine can add to the enjoyment of a meal, and most people are aware of the supposed health benefits that drinking wine can have. Now, scientists have added to that list protecting our vision. New research has uncovered compounds found in wine, grapes, blueberries, and peanuts that may help preserve vision in such conditions as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in people in the United States over the age of 50.

The formation of blood vessels in the eyes, also known as angiogenesis, can also contribute to tumor formation and atherosclerosis. Using animal models, researchers found that resveratrol, one of the active antioxidant compounds found in wine, was able to inhibit retinal angiogenesis. The findings, published in the American Journal of Pathology, support previous research suggesting that resveratrol has anti-aging capabilities. Earlier reports have also indicated that the compound affected blood vessels in other parts of the body, inspiring the authors of the current study to examine its effects on the eyes.

To arrive at their findings, investigators focused on mice that, under the right circumstances, experience abnormal blood vessel growth in their retinas. After treatment with resveratrol, the problematic growth began to disappear. It was observed that resveratrol was able to not only prevent new blood vessels from forming, but it also stopped the formation of blood vessels that had already begun to form. Examination of the cells in the laboratory enabled researchers to gain a better understanding of the mechanism behind the protective effect.

Interestingly, this pathway was different from the previous anti-aging mechanism described for resveratrol, which involves a group of proteins known as sirtuins. Because of this difference, the new data could represent a novel way to approach to treating age-related eye diseases as well as any other illness where angiogenesis plays a significant role.

Furthermore, the fact that resveratrol is easily absorbed into the body and can thus be given orally is preferable to the current method for treating retinal disease, which involves injections into the eye.

Resveratrol treatment could potentially be effective in treating three major forms of eye disease: age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and retinopathy of prematurity (RP). ARMD involves abnormal blood vessel formation near the retina, and is responsible for more than 40% of the cases of blindness in older people in nursing homes. The problem is expected to worsen at baby boomers get older.

DR leads to a situation where the blood vessels grow into the retina itself rather beneath it. DR leads to blindness in nearly 20% of the nearly 24 million diabetics in this country. RP occurs when the blood vessels leading to the retinas of premature babies become obstructed. This can lead to retinal detachment and obstructed vision.

The authors note that the research is in its early phase, and more work needs to be done, especially in humans. Nevertheless, the findings are exciting and represent a potentially new approach to help stop blindness that stems from aberrant blood vessel growth.