108-OR: Clinical and Biochemical Factors Are Inversely Correlated in Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Although diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are the two most common sight-threatening conditions in the elderly population, our understanding of the associated risks for these diseases have not been studied. Thus, we examined the association between AMD and DR in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes from the Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study, composed of individuals who have had insulin-dependent diabetes for 50 years or longer and Beetham Eye Institute. In Medalists, there was an inverse association between DR severity and the presence of AMD (N=1163, P=<0.0001, AMD: 23.4%, 18.6, 7.9% for no-mild, moderate-severe, and proliferative DR, respectively). Similarly, the presence of AMD was associated with milder DR in the BEI cohort (N=58, P=0.004). There were no eyes with neovascular (severe AMD). The presence of AMD was associated with older age (P=0.03), increased diabetes duration (P<0.0001), less severe DR (P<0.0001), and the absence of neuropathy (P=0.003). In contrast, younger age (P=0.02) and the presence of neuropathy (P<0.0001) were associated with the presence of proliferative DR. Higher vitreous retinol-binding protein 3 (RBP3) to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ratios were associated with AMD and less severe DR in both postmortem Medalist and surgical BEI samples (N=187, P<0.05, all). The presence of milder DR was associated with increased risk of AMD development (24.8%, 10.0%, 5.0% for no-mild, moderate-severe, and proliferative DR, respectively, P=0.047), and risk of DR progression was decreased in eyes with versus without AMD (P=0.04) in a subset of Medalists with longitudinal follow up (22.9%). These novel findings that the inverse risk of DR and AMD is not likely due to similar pathogenic mechanisms and ageing factors. Further studies are needed to clarify the interactions between AMD and DR, that may provide new pathways to target against their development. Disclosure W.Fickweiler: None. G.L.King: Research Support; Janssen Research & Development, LLC. C.Jacoba: None. S.Jangolla: None. J.Gauthier: None. N.A.Ziemniak: None. I.Wu: None. J.D.Cavallerano: None. L.P.Aiello: Consultant; KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk, MantraBio, Ceramedix, Research Support; Optos plc., Stock/Shareholder; KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. J.Sun: Research Support; Adaptive Sensory Technology, Boehringer Ingelheim Inc., Roche Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Physical Sciences, Inc, Novo Nordisk, Optovue, Incorporated. Funding American Diabetes Association (7-21-PDF-022 to W.F.); National Eye Institute (R01EYE26080-01); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DP3DK09433301); JDRF (17-2013-310); Dianne Nunnally Hoppes Fund; Beatson Pledge Fund