Mast cell (MC) play a crucial role in non-allergic fundus diseases, including uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. MCs can profoundly influence the pathological processes of these diseases by regulating inflammatory responses, promoting angiogenesis, and facilitating tissue remodeling through the degranulation and release of mediators such as histamine, cytokines, and enzymes. The application of MC-associated inhibitors has been shown to effectively mitigate or inhibit the progression of these pathologies, offering a promising strategy for treating ocular diseases. Understanding the current state of MC research in fundus diseases will enhance our insight into their role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of these conditions and encourage further research aimed at providing more effective treatment options for patients.
Tear fluid, as an important ocular surface fluid, can effectively reflect both ocular and systemic metabolic states through its compositional changes, making it an ideal source for discovering disease biomarkers. Current tear collection methods mainly include the Schirmer strip test and microcapillary collection, while detection technologies encompass enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, protein chip technology, mass spectrometry, Olink targeted proteomics, and bead-based multiplex assays. Studies have shown that various biomarkers in tear fluid—such as proteins, cytokines, and chemokines that are closely associated with the pathophysiological processes of fundus diseases including diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, and uveitis, demonstrating potential as indicators for early diagnosis, disease assessment, and therapeutic monitoring. As a non-invasive and convenient detection tool, tear analysis shows broad application prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of fundus diseases. However, further optimization of collection and detection techniques, along with large-scale clinical studies to validate the clinical utility of tear biomarkers, is still needed to promote their standardization and widespread adoption in clinical practice.
