This review paper uses various pieces of research from the literature to detail the characteristics of curcumin, a molecule produced by plants. The paper particularly focuses on the beneficial and controversial aspects of curcumin. It talks about the retina's susceptibility to oxidative stress due to its cell composition and constant exposure to photons, highlighting that retinal ganglion cells and photoreceptors are particularly sensitive to oxidative damage. The paper also points to studies that link an imbalance in reactive oxygen species to a wide range of retinal diseases.

In the discussion of results, it is stated that a number of studies suggest that curcumin can be well tolerated by humans when taken orally and does not tend to have negative effects, making it a promising candidate for retinal disease treatment. However, a primary limitation is curcumin's poor bioavailability; the body can only absorb a small fraction of the substance as an active compound. Despite that, efforts have been made to improve curcumin's accessibility to target tissues in sufficient quantities.