Epigenetic reprogramming for ocular aging and disease: Mechanisms, biomarkers, and the road to the clinic

Abstract

The eye's visual function relies on retinal neural cells that are long-lived, post-mitotic, and possess minimal regenerative capacity. These combined properties render them exceptionally vulnerable to the cumulative damage that drives age-related functional decline. Accumulating evidence now implicates epigenetic alterations, such as aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications, not merely as correlates of aging but as fundamental drivers of aging and disease. These changes disrupt the stable gene expression programs required to maintain cellular identity and function, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of irreversible blinding diseases like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Unlike immutable genetic mutations, the reversible nature of these epigenetic marks offers a novel therapeutic paradigm. Epigenetic reprogramming, a strategy involving the transient expression of Yamanaka factors or chemical cocktails, provides a powerful means to reset this dysregulated epigenetic landscape and restore cells to a more youthful state. Compelling preclinical studies have validated this approach by demonstrating vision restoration in models of optic neuropathy through the rejuvenation of damaged and aged neurons. This review provides a comprehensive overview of ocular aging from an epigenetic perspective, examines the promise and potential concerns of epigenetic reprogramming, and discusses the future of rejuvenation therapies in ophthalmology.