Quantitative assessment of early diabetic retinopathy using fractal analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Fractal analysis can quantify the geometric complexity of the retinal vascular branching pattern and may therefore offer a new method to quantify early diabetic microvascular damage. In this study, we examined the relationship between retinal fractal dimension and retinopathy in young individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Research design and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 729 patients with type 1 diabetes (aged 12-20 years) who had seven-field stereoscopic retinal photographs taken of both eyes. From these photographs, retinopathy was graded according to the modified Airlie House classification, and fractal dimension was quantified using a computer-based program following a standardized protocol.

Results

In this study, 137 patients (18.8%) had d

SUBMITTER: Cheung N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2606840 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature