The Eye as a Window to the Microvascular Complications of Diabetes

Dev Ophthalmol. 2017:60:6-15. doi: 10.1159/000459642. Epub 2017 Apr 20.

Abstract

Although microvascular complications of diabetes (retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy) affect different organs, they are strongly correlated to each other. Based on recent data, their onset and progression could be directly monitored, focusing our attention only on the eye. When confirmed and standardized, this approach could allow one to simplify the way in which we follow the progression of different diabetic complications, and thus establish new strategies aimed at preventing, treating and, hopefully, inducing the remission of microvascular complications of diabetes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diabetic Retinopathy* / diagnosis
  • Diabetic Retinopathy* / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Retinopathy* / physiopathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Microcirculation*
  • Microvessels / pathology*
  • Morbidity
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*