TY - JOUR
T1 - Decreased retinal capillary flow is not a mediator of the protective myopia-diabetic retinopathy relationship
AU - Man, Ryan Eyn Kidd
AU - Sasongko, Muhammad Bayu
AU - Xie, Jing
AU - Best, William J.
AU - Noonan, Jonathan E.
AU - Lo, Tiffany Ching Shen
AU - Wang, Jie Jin
AU - Luu, Chi D.
AU - Lamoureux, Ecosse L.
PY - 2014/10
Y1 - 2014/10
N2 - PURPOSE: The mechanisms supporting the protective relationship between a longer axial length (AL) and a decreased risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated reduced retinal blood flow in axial myopia, and it has been suggested that the compromised retinal capillaries in diabetes are less likely to leak and rupture as a result of this decreased flow. In this study, we therefore investigated if reduced retinal capillary flow (RCF) is a potential mechanism underpinning this protective relationship.METHODS: Retinal capillary flow was assessed using the Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter in 150 eyes of 85 patients with diabetes aged 18+ years from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne), Australia. Axial length was measured using the Intraocular Lens Master. Diabetic retinopathy was graded from two-field retinal photographs into none, mild, moderate, and severe DR using the modified Airlie House classification system.RESULTS: A total of 74 out of 150 eyes (49.3%) had DR. A longer AL was associated with decreased odds of DR presence (per mm increase in AL, odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-0.91) and DR severity (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.44-0.95). However, no association was found between AL and RCF (per mm increase in AL, regression coefficient [β] -1.80, 95% CI -13.50 to 9.50) or between RCF and DR (per unit increase in RCF, OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.00).CONCLUSIONS: Our finding suggests that diminished RCF may not be a major factor underlying the protective association between axial elongation and DR.
AB - PURPOSE: The mechanisms supporting the protective relationship between a longer axial length (AL) and a decreased risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated reduced retinal blood flow in axial myopia, and it has been suggested that the compromised retinal capillaries in diabetes are less likely to leak and rupture as a result of this decreased flow. In this study, we therefore investigated if reduced retinal capillary flow (RCF) is a potential mechanism underpinning this protective relationship.METHODS: Retinal capillary flow was assessed using the Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter in 150 eyes of 85 patients with diabetes aged 18+ years from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne), Australia. Axial length was measured using the Intraocular Lens Master. Diabetic retinopathy was graded from two-field retinal photographs into none, mild, moderate, and severe DR using the modified Airlie House classification system.RESULTS: A total of 74 out of 150 eyes (49.3%) had DR. A longer AL was associated with decreased odds of DR presence (per mm increase in AL, odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41-0.91) and DR severity (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.44-0.95). However, no association was found between AL and RCF (per mm increase in AL, regression coefficient [β] -1.80, 95% CI -13.50 to 9.50) or between RCF and DR (per unit increase in RCF, OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.00).CONCLUSIONS: Our finding suggests that diminished RCF may not be a major factor underlying the protective association between axial elongation and DR.
KW - axial length
KW - diabetic retinopathy
KW - myopia
KW - retinal blood flow
KW - retinal capillary flow
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925283649&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1167/iovs.14-15137
DO - 10.1167/iovs.14-15137
M3 - Article
C2 - 25270188
AN - SCOPUS:84925283649
SN - 1552-5783
VL - 55
SP - 6901
EP - 6907
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
IS - 10
ER -
