Studying Blood Vessel Changes in Diabetic Retinopathy using Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmology-Bonnie Huang-ISPB Grant

The goal of the project is to study blood vessel changes in diabetic retinopathy (DR) using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmology (AOSLO). DR is the leading cause of blindness for working-age adults and is currently difficult to diagnose and treat early on in the disease course. Previously, it has been shown that in early DR, there is a loss of cells called pericytes on the surface of retinal blood vessels. Therefore, we will use AOSLO to image retinal blood vessels in high resolution to quantify pericyte density in both healthy and early DR patients and evaluate the use of this parameter as a potential new biomarker for early DR diagnosis. As part of this study, we will also use AOSLO to investigate the effect of anti-VEGF injections on retinal blood flow in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Aim 1: Study retinal blood flow changes in DME patients before and after anti-VEGF injection Aim 2: Evaluate the use of pericyte density as a novel biomarker for early DR