Genetic factors associated with Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of visual impairment among working age adults and the burden is expected to increase as populations age across the world. Our genetic make up is thought to contribute to the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. However studies so far have failed to identify a specific genetic defect. One of the reasons for inconclusive results has been small sample size of studies. The UK Biobank offers a large sample of participants who have genomic data. This allows a more robust study of genetics in diabetic retinopathy We aim to analyze genetic data of participants with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy. This can help with early identification of individuals at increased risk for vision loss, improve our understanding of the factors involved in development of retinopathy, and potentially lead to the development of new treatment strategies.