Chao Ma,1,* Haoyu Li,2,3,* Shuwen Lu,4 Xian Li5,6 

1Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 3Hunan Clinical Research Centre of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 5Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; 6Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Chao Ma, Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-371-66278091, Email gmchao219@163.com

Abstract: Degenerative fundus disease encompasses a spectrum of ocular diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are major contributors to visual impairment and blindness worldwide. The development and implementation of effective strategies for managing and preventing the onset and progression of these diseases are crucial for preserving patients’ visual acuity. Melatonin, a neurohormone primarily produced by the pineal gland, exhibits properties such as circadian rhythm modulation, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and neuroprotection within the ocular environment. Furthermore, melatonin has been shown to suppress neovascularization and reduce vascular leakage, both of which are critical in the pathogenesis of degenerative fundus lesions. Consequently, melatonin emerges as a promising therapeutic candidate for degenerative ocular diseases. This review provides a comprehensive overview of melatonin synthesis, its localization within ocular tissues, and its mechanisms of action, particularly in regulating melatonin production, thereby underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent for degenerative fundus diseases.

Keywords: melatonin, fundus degeneration, oxidative stress, inflammation, anti-apoptotic