Quantifying frequency content in cross-sectional retinal scans of diabetics vs controls
Published on MedED: 29 August 2021
Type of article: Clinical Article Summary
MedED Catalogue Reference: MOT001
Compiler: Linda Ravenhill
Sources: PLoS One, Medical Express
Type of article: Clinical Article Summary
MedED Catalogue Reference: MOT001
Compiler: Linda Ravenhill
Sources: PLoS One, Medical Express
Approximately 28 million diabetic patients globally are thought to have vision-threatening retinopathy.
Neural and vascular changes in the retina are a prominent feature of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema and the main sight-threatening complications in the retina of many people with diabetes.2In the early stages, these changes are detectable; however, new research has found that the changes can be determined even earlier, through the use of specialised imaging techniques and artificial intelligence in the form of computer analysis, allowing for earlier intervention and ultimately better outcomes for the patient.2
The clinical classification of the stages of severity of retinal disease involves various vascular changes, including changes to the blood vessels and the leakage of fluid and lipids. Most grading and classification schemes have not yet evolved to make the best use of modern imaging techniques and instead rely on colour fundus photography, with the original cameras using flood illumination and lacking scanning or confocal apertures to increase contrast.2
Traditionally an increase in retinal thickness was used as a marker to determine these changes. It may not be a sensitive measure of retinal pathology for several reasons, including:2
- Damage or loss of neural elements in diabetic retinas which is a common pathological change
- Changes such as those contributing to trans-synaptic degeneration of retinal ganglion cells resulting in retinal thinning can also be associated with other diseases, for example, stroke.
- Additionally, some retinal changes result in one layer being thinned while another is thickened.2
Feature-based classification schedules are being developed, but these currently depend on human intervention, with human graders making the assessment – all of which is time-consuming and subjective
Furthermore, the potential optical signatures that would indicate early changes to vessels or vessel leakage are often small features, e.g. small, hyper-reflective hard exudates or hyper-reflective structures within vessels, and can be challenging to detect with clinical means or wide-field imaging.2This new study suggests that an alternative is to consider a combination of methods that provide thickness and features.
Although not thicker than controls, the study found that diabetic retinas had subtle but quantifiable pattern changes in SD-OCT images, particularly in deeper fundus layers. The size range and distribution of this pattern in diabetic eyes were consistent with small blood vessel abnormalities and leakage of lipid and fluid.1
Feature-based biomarkers may augment retinal thickness criteria for the management of diabetic eye complications and may detect early changes.1 This new study is part of the current widespread emphasis on detection of diabetic retinopathy through artificial intelligence applied to retinal images.2
Access the original research investigation here
Quantifying frequency content in cross-sectional retinal scans of diabetics vs. controls 
References:
1. Indiana University. (2021, July 26). New biomarkers may detect early eye changes that can lead to diabetes-related blindness. Retrieved August 29, 2021, from Medical Xpress: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-07-biomarkers-early-eye-diabetes-related.html
2. Papay, J. A., & Elsner, A. E. (2021, June 21). Quantifying frequency content in cross-sectional retinal scans of diabetics vs. controls. PLos One. doi:DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253091. Accessed 29 August 21. Retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253091
2. Papay, J. A., & Elsner, A. E. (2021, June 21). Quantifying frequency content in cross-sectional retinal scans of diabetics vs. controls. PLos One. doi:DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253091. Accessed 29 August 21. Retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253091
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