Diabetic Retinopathy and Subclinical Signs of Disease Transition

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing worldwide. Diabetic retinopathy is the most prevalent complication of DM and a leading cause of visual impairment. Some factors are known to temporarily aggravate or improve diabetic retinopathy, but underlying pathophysiologic factors are still unknown. High-resolution imaging techniques of the retina and its supplying vascular networks now allow novel insight to subtle changes that cannot be appreciated in standard fundus examination. In detail, the investigators image study patients with optical coherence tomography (OCT) - technology, that provides morphological information of retinal structure and the supplying vessels in a non-invasive way. Retinal layer thickness as well as capillary density will be quantified and followed in patients that are in a critical period of disease transition to better understand the process of diabetic retinopathy.