Assessment of Retinal Microcirculation in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with an increased lifetime risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of visual impairment among working-age adults worldwide. Retinal assessment plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with T1DM, as the retina provides a unique, non-invasive window into the body's microvascular circulation. Early detection of retinal abnormalities is essential because structural and microvascular changes may develop years before the onset of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy or visual symptoms. Contemporary retinal imaging techniques, enable the quantitative evaluation of retinal microvasculature allowing the identification of subclinical retinal damage.