Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026
04:36
Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression
Published on: January 12, 2024
1.6K
PHOTORECEPTOR DAMAGE IN DIABETIC CHOROIDOPATHY
Enrico Borrelli1, Michele Palmieri1, Pasquale Viggiano1
1Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, University G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy; and.
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|April 16, 2019
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes reduced blood flow in the choroid (CC hypoperfusion) and damage to the photoreceptors. This study found a strong link between CC hypoperfusion and photoreceptor damage in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Vision Science
- Diabetic Retinopathy Research
- Retinal and Choroidal Imaging
Background:
- Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss, characterized by progressive retinal and potentially choroidal vascular damage.
- Photoreceptor integrity is crucial for visual function, and their dysfunction is increasingly recognized in early stages of DR.
- The choriocapillaris (CC), a vascular layer supporting the outer retina, plays a vital role in photoreceptor health, but its involvement in DR is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between choriocapillaris (CC) hypoperfusion and photoreceptor alterations in eyes diagnosed with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
- To quantify photoreceptor damage using "normalized" reflectivity at the ellipsoid zone level.
- To assess CC perfusion density in patients with NPDR compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, observational, case-control study involving 30 eyes with NPDR and 30 healthy control eyes.
- Ophthalmologic examinations included optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) for detailed vascular and structural analysis.
- Key metrics included ellipsoid zone "normalized" reflectivity (photoreceptor damage proxy) and CC perfusion density, alongside retinal capillary plexus (SCP, ICP, DCP) metrics.
Main Results:
- Eyes with NPDR exhibited significantly lower ellipsoid zone "normalized" reflectivity compared to controls (P < 0.0001), indicating substantial photoreceptor damage.
- The NPDR group demonstrated impaired perfusion across both retinal and choroidal vasculature.
- Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant direct association between ellipsoid zone "normalized" reflectivity and CC perfusion density in NPDR patients (P = 0.025).
Conclusions:
- Eyes with NPDR experience macular hypoperfusion and significant photoreceptor damage, evidenced by reduced ellipsoid zone "normalized" reflectivity.
- Diabetic choroidopathy, specifically CC hypoperfusion, is strongly associated with the observed photoreceptor damage in NPDR.
- These findings highlight the critical role of choroidal blood flow in maintaining photoreceptor health in diabetic patients.
Related Concept Videos
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
28.4K
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
28.4K
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
9.0K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
9.0K
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
3.3K
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
3.3K
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
887
The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
887
01:19Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
493
Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
493
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
4.4K
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
4.4K