Doctoral thesis
OA Policy
English

Ocular neurodegenerative changes and macular cysts in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

ContributorsDe Clerck, Eline
Number of pages247
Defense date2017-12-22
Abstract

Over the last 20 years, the number of people suffering from diabetes or prediabetes has doubled. Retinal microvascular changes (i.e. microaneurysms and haemorrhages) and neurodegenerative changes (i.e. degeneration of ganglion cells and axons) are a result of diabetes. These changes can cause vision loss, impaired dark adaptation and colour blindness. Due to diabetes, neurodegenerative changes of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus may occur as well, including reduced nerve fibre length. Therefore, diabetes is associated with delayed corneal epithelial healing, impaired corneal sensitivity and corneal erosions. This dissertation shows that neurodegenerative changes may also occur in the absence of microvascular changes. Approximately 50 percent of neuronal damage of retina, optic nerve and cornea is already present in prediabetes. Early diagnosis of and regular follow-up appointments with people with prediabetes can have a major impact on public health and public health costs.

Keywords
  • Diabetes
  • Prediabetes
  • Eyes
NoteThèse soutenenue à l'Université de Maastricht, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20171222ec
Affiliation entities Not a UNIGE publication
Citation (ISO format)
DE CLERCK, Eline. Ocular neurodegenerative changes and macular cysts in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Thèse, 2017.
Main files (1)
Thesis
Identifiers
  • PID : unige:194860
3views
0downloads

Technical informations

Creation27/07/2026 18:02:37
First validation28/07/2026 15:26:11
Update28/07/2026 15:26:11
Status update28/07/2026 15:26:11
Last indexation28/07/2026 15:26:11
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack