Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus that not only impairs vision and quality of life but has also emerged as a leading cause of blindness in working-age individuals. Long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (LncMALAT1) is a non-coding RNA molecule that regulates gene expression and has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of DR. It exerts its effects through the modulation of various pathological processes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Notably, alterations in the expression levels of LncMALAT1 may serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of DR. Furthermore, interventions targeting LncMALAT1, employing antioxidants, anti-angiogenic agents, traditional Chinese medicine, and gene therapy, present promising avenues for its potential development as an effective therapeutic target for DR.
