Retrobulbar vascular dysfunction in different stages of diabetic retinopathy

Colour Doppler imaging [CDI] was used in forty diabetic patients without and with different stages of diabetic retinopathy and in ten normal subjects, to determine blood flow velocities and resistive index of ophthalmic, central retinal arteries and central retinal vein. Diabetic patients had lower blood velocity and higher resistive index than normal subjects in ophthalmic and central retinal arteries. These findings were significant in patients with preproliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, P<0.01 and P<0.001 respectively. In conclusion, Blood flow velocity was decreased and resistive index was increased in diabetic patients