Project Details
Description
Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in the world. Patients with diabetic
retinopathy have impaired ability to dilate their retinal blood vessels to accommodate areas of the eye that
needs more oxygen. In the dark, photoreceptors, which are essential for vision, need the most oxygen in the
eye. We suspect that diabetic eyes are unable to provide enough oxygen for their photoreceptors in the dark
because their blood vessels that carry oxygen cannot adapt and dilate when needed, as in healthy eyes. To test
this theory, we will image retinal blood vessels in the dark and during the transition from dark to light using a
quick and non-invasive camera called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in diabetic
compared to healthy eyes. This study aims to provide an explanation for photoreceptor abnormalities in
diabetics and a basis for potential therapies that can help decrease the damage to photoreceptors in the dark.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 7/1/19 → 12/31/20 |
Funding
- Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness (Award Letter 6/7/19)
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