Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:274-278 ( April )

Retinal vessel dilatation and elongation precedes diabetic macular oedema

Jóhannes Kári Kristinsson, María Soffía Gottfredsdóttir, Einar Stefánsson

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Landakotsspítali, Reykjavík, Iceland

Correspondence to: Einar Stefánsson, MD, PhD, University of Iceland, Department of Ophthalmology, Öldugata 17, IS 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

Accepted for publication 25 November 1996

AIMS/BACKGROUNDRetinal vessel dilatation is a well known phenomenon in diabetes. In this study, the theory of whether excessive changes in diameter and length of retinal vessels occur in the development of diabetic macular oedema was tested, supporting a hypothesis that the development of diabetic macular oedema may be linked to hydrostatic pressure changes described in Starling's law.
METHODSFrom fundus photographs of diabetic patients attending a regular eye screening programme, the diameter and segment length of retinal vessels were measured in three retinopathy groups (12 patients each) with diabetic macular oedema (DMO), background retinopathy and no retinopathy, over a period of approximately 4 years, ending at the time of diagnosis of diabetic macular oedema in the DMO group.
RESULTSA statistically significant dilatation and elongation of retinal arterioles, venules, and their macular branches was found before the diagnosis of macular oedema in the DMO group. No significant changes were found in the other two groups.
CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that Starling's law applies to the formation of oedema in the retina as in other tissues.

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© 1997 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
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