Early breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier in diabetes

Abstract

The blood-retinal barrier plays an important part in the processes of retinal pathophysiology. A new clinical method for the study of the bloodretinal barrier by vitreous fluorophotometry appears to satisfy the necessary requirements in that it is quantitative and shows good reproducibility and high sensitivity. The application of this method to a series of diabetic patients with apparently 'normal' fundi revealed the presence of a significant breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier in the early stages of retinal involvement in diabetes. The extent of the breakdown can be measured allowing for comparative and evolutionary evaluations. The disturbance of the blood-retinal barrier, as evidence by vitreous fluorophotometry, appears before microaneurysms or capillary closure can be demonstrated by fluorescein angiography.