title: Systemic associations of dynamic retinal vessel analysis: a review of current literature.
abstract: Endothelial dysfunction is a key pathogenic mechanism of CVD. The retinal microvascular network offers a unique, non-invasive window to study endothelial function. Recently, dynamic measurement of retinal vessel caliber using flicker light stimulation has been used to evaluate potential endothelial dysfunction and other mechanisms in CVD. A variety of studies now indicate that retinal vasodilation during flicker light simulation is reduced in diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity, and may be influenced by age and race/ethnicity. These data suggest that flicker light-induced retinal vasodilation may be a unique and non-invasive measure of endothelial dysfunction. This review focuses recent studies on systemic associations of flicker light-induced retinal vasodilation, and discusses the potential for future research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Muhammad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sasongko
authors.forename: Mohammad K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ikram
authors.forename: Ecosse
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.forename: Jie Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tien Yin
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Carol Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008027:Light; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014664:Vasodilation