17β-estradiol ameliorates oxidative stress and blue light-emitting diode-induced retinal degeneration by decreasing apoptosis and enhancing autophagy

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effects of 17β-estradiol (βE2) on blue light-emitting diode (LED)-induced retinal degeneration (RD) in rats and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced retinal pigment epithelium cell injury in humans and elucidate the protective mechanism of βE2 underlying these processes. Methods: Female ovariectomized (OVX) rats were intravitreally injected with βE2 before blue LED exposure (3,000 lux, 2 hours). Retinal function and morphology were assayed via electroretinogram (ERG) and HE βE2 may be a novel and effective therapy for age-related macular degeneration.