Abstract
Presentation Description :
There is mounting evidence that diabetes affects retinal function prior to the onset of clinically-apparent vascular abnormalities. I will summarize findings from recent clinical studies that have used the electroretinogram (ERG: a noninvasive, objective technique to measure retinal function) to evaluate neural dysfunction in patients with diabetes. The focus will be on the flicker ERG, which appears to be an early marker of photoreceptor and bipolar cell dysfunction in diabetic eye disease. Studies showing that retinal dysfunction in early diabetic retinopathy can manifest as behavioral sensitivity losses that can be quantified by psychophysical techniques will also be discussed. I hope to provide compelling evidence that neural abnormalities are an important aspect of early diabetic eye disease that should be considered in future clinical classification scales of diabetic retinopathy.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.