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Diameter Changes of Retinal Vessels in Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Microvascular Complications—Retinopathy (JK Sun and PS Silva, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The diameter of retinal vessels is an important source of information about retinal blood flow and metabolism. The purpose of the present study is to review how diameter changes of retinal vessels contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy and may be a marker of the prognosis of the disease.

Recent Findings

The early stages of diabetic retinopathy are accompanied with dilatation of the diameter of retinal vessels and reduced autoregulation. Diabetic retinopathy also shows regional differences in the macular area and the retinal periphery and accompanying differences in vascular reactivity in these areas. These differences may potentially become an important source of insight into the pathophysiology of the disease in the future.

Summary

Diabetic retinopathy is accompanied with changes in the diameter regulation of retinal vessels. The potential of newly developed techniques for assessing retinal blood flow and metabolism, such as Doppler techniques, adaptive optics, and retinal oximetry, is promising and may potentially contribute to significant advances in our understanding of diabetic retinopathy which remains a major cause of visual impairment.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the VELUX Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Toke Bek

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  1. Toke Bek
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Toke Bek declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Microvascular Complications—Retinopathy

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Bek, T. Diameter Changes of Retinal Vessels in Diabetic Retinopathy. Curr Diab Rep 17, 82 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0909-9

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