A Review on the Extraction of Quantitative Retinal Microvascular Image Feature <s> Diabetic Retinopathy. <s> Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision-loss globally. Of an estimated 285 million people with diabetes mellitus worldwide, approximately one third have signs of DR and of these, a further one third of DR is vision-threatening DR, including diabetic macular edema (DME). The identification of established modifiable risk factors for DR such as hyperglycemia and hypertension has provided the basis for risk factor control in preventing onset and progression of DR. Additional research investigating novel risk factors has improved our understanding of multiple biological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of DR and DME, especially those involved in inflammation and oxidative stress. Variations in DR prevalence between populations have also sparked interest in genetic studies to identify loci associated with disease susceptibility. In this review, major trends in the prevalence, incidence, progression and regression of DR and DME are explored, and gaps in literature identified. Established and novel risk factors are also extensively reviewed with a focus on landmark studies and updates from the recent literature. <s> BIB001 </s> A Review on the Extraction of Quantitative Retinal Microvascular Image Feature <s> Diabetic Retinopathy. <s> Diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes significant visual loss on a global scale. Treatments for the vision-threatening complications of diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) have greatly improved over the past decade. However, additional therapeutic options are needed that take into account pathology associated with vascular, glial, and neuronal components of the diabetic retina. Recent work indicates that diabetes markedly impacts the retinal neurovascular unit and its interdependent vascular, neuronal, glial, and immune cells. This knowledge is leading to identification of new targets and therapeutic strategies for preventing or reversing retinal neuronal dysfunction, vascular leakage, ischemia, and pathologic angiogenesis. These advances, together with approaches embracing the potential of preventative or regenerative medicine, could provide the means to better manage DR, including treatment at earlier stages and more precise tailoring of treatments based on individual patient variations. <s> BIB002
One-third of people with diabetes would have diabetic retinopathy (DR). This condition is ranked as the fifth most common cause of blindness worldwide BIB001 . DR is strongly associated with a prolonged duration of diabetes, hyperglycaemia, and hypertension. Severe stages of DR include proliferative DR, caused by vascular leakage and new retinal blood vessels growth amplified by chemokine secretion such as vasculoendothelial growth factor (VEGF) and diabetic macular oedema, in which there are exudation and oedema in the central part of the retina  BIB002 . At present, intraocular treatment modalities for diabetic eye disease include laser photocoagulation, intravitreous injections of anti-VEGF and steroid agents, and vitreoretinal surgery BIB002 . The pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy initially affects the retinal blood vessels. Due to poor glycaemic control, the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) will invariably damage the pericytes which are the cellular supporting structure of the retinal capillaries. This leads to weaker and hence leaky capillaries and promoting microhypertension of the retinal blood vessels. This, in turn, will result in various retinal vascular changes including dilated, tortuous vessels with altering course and tributary angles  . This angular change can be further studied to determine its significance in the prediction and assessment of disease progression.