Retinal circulation time and flow in relations to blood viscosity in diabetics

The appearance of blood flow in the retinal arteries and its transient time to the retinal veins were documented in diabetics using flucrescein dye and the wide angle fundus camera. The time was correlated to the level of viscosity in the blood and type of retinopathy in 54 male juvenile diabetics and in 20 normal controls. In diabetics it was found that the retinal transient arterio venous time was shortend compared to normal, but was prolonged in the presence of hyperviscosity or retinopathy. The rapid retinal flow in diabetics without complications may be used as an early sign of retinal hypoxia and subsequent retinopathy