Overview
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes in which blood vessels supplying blood to the back of the eye (retina) are dysfunctional. This can lead to an improper supply of oxygen and nutrients to the retinal tissue, or it may trigger the formation of new blood vessels in response to the oxygen/nutrient deficiency. Ultimately affecting the normal vision. There is no known marker that will provide information on the health status of retinal blood vessels. Using highly specialized cells in the blood, this study will try to discover a marker of DR.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ability to cooperate with imaging procedures.
- Health status: established type 2 diabetes
- No history of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP)
- No history of treatment with intravitreal agents for past 12 months
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous or current malignancy
- Acute or chronic infection (HIV, hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis)
- Cerebral vascular accident or cerebral vascular procedure
- Current pregnancy
- History of organ transplantation
- Presence of a graft (to avoid any effect of the graft)
- History of previous vitrectomy
- Subjects with a history of age-related macular degeneration age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, uveitis, and branched or central vein occlusion.