Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025
09:11
Retinal Pathophysiological Evaluation in a Rat Model
Published on: May 6, 2022
4.7K
Structural and functional retinal changes in patients with type 2 diabetes without diabetic retinopathy
Qiannan Chai1, Yimin Yao1, Congrong Guo1
1Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Annals of Medicine
|July 5, 2022
Summary
Diabetic patients without retinopathy show decreased retinal sensitivity and structural changes, including thinner retinal nerve fiber layers and altered vessel density. These findings indicate early retinal alterations before diabetic retinopathy onset.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Diabetology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss.
- Early structural and functional changes in the retina preceding DR are not well understood.
- Type 2 diabetes patients without diagnosed DR (NDR) represent a critical window for early detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the early structural and functional alterations in the retina of diabetic patients without retinopathy (NDR).
- To identify preclinical changes that may predict the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study comparing 34 NDR patients with 37 healthy controls.
- Microperimetry assessed retinal sensitivity.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measured peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (p-RNFL) thickness, macular thickness, and retinal volume.
- Optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) evaluated vessel density (VD), perfusion density (PD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) characteristics.
Main Results:
- NDR group exhibited significantly lower retinal sensitivity across all sectors compared to controls (p < .001).
- Thinner p-RNFL in the temporal sector (p = .035) and reduced macular thickness in the nasal sector (p = .010) were observed in NDR patients.
- Altered perfusion density (PD) in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) (p = .044) and increased vessel density (VD) in specific peripapillary regions were noted.
- Higher frequencies of perifoveal capillary dropout and irregular FAZ borders were found in the NDR group (p < .05).
Conclusions:
- Diabetic patients without retinopathy show measurable decreases in retinal sensitivity and structural changes.
- Early alterations in retinal structure (p-RNFL, VD, PD) and function (sensitivity) occur before DR diagnosis.
- These preclinical changes highlight the importance of monitoring retinal health in diabetic individuals even in the absence of retinopathy.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
2.8K
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...
2.8K
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
680
For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
680
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
3.1K
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
3.1K
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
1.2K
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,...
1.2K