Retinal neuropathy precedes vasculopathy in diabetes: a function‐based opportunity for early treatment intervention?

Abstract

Diabetes, now at epidemic levels, can have devastating effects on the eye and vision. Treatments of the ocular complications are currently focused on relatively advanced stages and are limited to the slowing down of the progressive sight‐threatening retinal vasculopathy (diabetic retinopathy). Tiny signals from the neural retina have been shown to reveal early diabetic neuropathy prior to vascular retinopathy. These signals, in a clinical test format, are predictive, by precise retinal location, of impending vasculopathy in the retina within a year, including sight‐threatening oedema. The discovery opens possibilities for the future development of treatments to prevent the onset of retinopathy and the more sight‐threatening retinal oedema and changes patient management strategies.

Key words:

• diabetes
• retina
• retinopathy
• treatment

This paper was the basis of a presentation at the Australian Vision Convention annual meeting on 13 April 2012, Queensland, Australia, on the occasion of the presentation of the H Barry Collin Research Medal to Anthony J Adams.

This paper was the basis of a presentation at the Australian Vision Convention annual meeting on 13 April 2012, Queensland, Australia, on the occasion of the presentation of the H Barry Collin Research Medal to Anthony J Adams.

Notes

This paper was the basis of a presentation at the Australian Vision Convention annual meeting on 13 April 2012, Queensland, Australia, on the occasion of the presentation of the H Barry Collin Research Medal to Anthony J Adams.