Importance of Mathematical Processing of the Retinal Image in Diabetic Retinopathy

Overview

The authors test whether for evaluation of the severity of diabetic retinopathy itis possible to use the method of computer assisted mathematical processing of theretinal image. This method is based on the identification of vascular endings inthe visualized part of the retina. It is assumed that with the severity of the findingthe number of vascular endings increases in conjunction with the process ofneogenesis.For assessment of the number of vascular endings the authors use the AdaptiveContrast Control (ACC) method. By a special procedure the vascular endings areidentified and their number is assessed in the investigated area of the retina. Themethod makes it possible to assess in addition to the number of vascular endingsalso the total length of the vessels, their volume, surface, area they cover and the The authors examined 19 patients (38 eyes) with a quite normal finding on theretina. The mean age of the group was 37.3 years. Moreover they examined 10patients (20eyes) with middle advanced and advanced non-proliferative diabeticretinopathy and 10 patients (20 eyes) with risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy.In every patient a standard digital photograph of the fundus of both eyes size "tif"was made and each picture was subjected to mathematical analysis. The group ofpatients was divided into three sub-groups (patients with a normal finding,a non-proliferative finding and a finding of proliferative diabetic retinopathy).In the conclusion the authors provide evidence that with increasing severity ofthe finding on the retina also the number of vascular endings increases.

Key words:
diabetic retinopathy, mathematical processing of the retinal image,Adaptive Contrast Control (ACC), number of vascular endings