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The morbidity of ocular diseases, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye disease, has been gradually increasing worldwide. Because these diseases develop from age-associated ocular dysfunctions, interventions against the aging process itself may be a promising strategy for their management. Among the several approaches to interrupt aging processes, calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to recover and/or slow age-related functional declines in various organs, including the eye. Here, we review interventions against the aging process as potential therapeutic approaches to age-related ocular diseases. The effects of CR and CR mimetics in animal models of age-related eye diseases are explored. Furthermore, we discuss the possibilities of expanding this research to prospective studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which CR and/or CR mimetics preserve ocular functions.

Highlights:

* CR prevents age-related decline of lacrimal gland function and morphology in rats.

* CR could contribute to lowering the amount of oxidative stress.

* Resveratrol as a CR mimetic suppresses vascular lesions associated with diabetic retinopathy.

* Mechanism of CR is related to AMPK activation.

(C) 2013Elsevier, Inc.