New UH study to evaluate vision loss risk in patients with diabetes

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A study to be conducted at the University of Houston College of Optometry is slated to track the health of patients with prediabetes and diabetes to determine which patients may be at risk for future vision loss.¹ The $3.3 million study will be led by Wendy Harrison, OD, PhD, FAAO, associate professor at the college, and is underwritten by the National Eye Institute, according to an article published by the University of Houston. The research team consists of the laboratories of Rachel Redfern, OD, PhD, FAAO, Maria Walker, OD, PhD, FAAO, Kaitlyn Sapoznik, OD, PhD, and Marc Hamilton, PhD.¹

“The ability to predict which patients are most at risk could constitute a significant advance in diagnosis and management of diabetes, which has reached epidemic proportions,” said Harrison in the article. “Early diagnosis and detection, especially if location-specific, could aid in delaying diabetic retinopathy and over the long term, saving sight.”

The research team will be studying both the front and the back of the eye and different types of glucose dysfunction. Additionally, they will study how glucose dysregulation affects the vascular and neural retina, cornea, and tear film by investigating whether tests like fat distribution, activity levels, and oral glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes are either linked to or can predict ocular health.¹

“Our central hypothesis is that local retinal oxygenation is altered by changes in glucose tolerance. This drives the relationship between vessel changes and retinal function, in local retinal areas,” said Harrison in the article.

After comparing patients in the study, the research team will follow up with them after 1 and 2 years to assess ocular and metabolic changes over time. “We expect that differences in impaired glucose tolerance and phenotypes will alter ocular testing over time, especially in prediabetes," Harrison said in the release.

The study aims to bridge the gap in understanding how and when prediabetes impacts eye health. Findings from this study would build upon current data that suggests that patients with prediabetes tend to have impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and elevated hemoglobin A1c.¹ “It is important that we close this gap as there are no treatments in the eye outside of glycemic control for early type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and to learn which type of glucose processing changes are most related to eye disease,” said Harrison in the article.

Reference:

1. New UH study targets early signs of vision loss in diabetic patients. News release. University of Houston. August 13, 2024. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2024/august/081324-harrison-diabetic-retinopathy-study.php