Hemodynamics in the retinal vasculature during the progression of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, it is shown that hemodynamic features are applicable as biomarkers to evaluate the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: Ninety-six fundus images from twenty-four subjects were selected. For each patient, four photographs were captured during the three years before DR and in the first year of DR. The vascular trees, which consisted of a parent vessel and two child branches were extracted, and at the branching nodes, the fluid dynamic conditions were estimated. Results: Veins were mostly affected during the last stage of diabetes before DR. In the arteries, the blood flow in both child branches and the Reynolds number in the smaller child branch were mostly affected. Conclusion: This study showed that hemodynamic features can add further information to the study of the progression of DR.