Aims/hypothesis: Insulin may link metabolic disorders to retinal microvascular pathology. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of early insulin resistance on retinal microcirculation.
Methods: Retinal diameter responses to flicker-light stimulation were investigated in 81 clinically healthy participants (32 ± 6 years [mean ± SD], 59% women) who were recruited according to their BMI. All participants underwent an OGTT and euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (40 mU/m(2) · min(-1) insulin dose). After stratification by low and high insulin sensitivity based on a clamp-derived glucose disposal rate of ≤ or >4.9 mg/kg body mass, respectively, baseline retinal diameters and their relative changes to flicker stimulation were compared while controlling for mean arterial pressure, BMI and sex.
Results: The arterial vasodilator response at the end of flicker stimulation (p = 0.044) and the area under the arterial reaction curve during flicker stimulation (p = 0.015) were significantly higher in individuals with low vs high insulin sensitivity. Vasodilatory responses of retinal veins to flicker stimulation and baseline retinal diameters did not differ between insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant participants (p > 0.05). In a stepwise linear regression analysis, fasting insulin remained the only predictor of the arterial vasodilator response to flicker-light (p < 0.01). Waist circumference also contributed, although to a lesser extent, to the arterial vasodilator response (p = 0.023).
Conclusions/interpretation: Insulin sensitivity is an important determinant of retinal microvascular function. We propose that the elevated arterial flicker response in insulin-resistant states is a result of higher circulating insulin levels.