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Abstract

Retinal neovascularisation is a major clinical complication of diabetic retinopathy that takes place late in the disease process and constitutes the most damaging phase resulting in loss of vision (Klein et al., 1984). Neovascularisation is defined as the growth of new blood vessels which, in a disease process such as diabetic retinopathy, occurs in abnormal retinal locations. Long term consequences of retinal neovascularisation include the formation of epiretinal membranes and retinal detachment (Smith et al., 1999). In addition, new blood vessels lack a patent blood retinal barrier and exhibit leukostasis presumably resulting in cytotoxic damage (Ishida et al., 2003; Qaum et al., 2001).

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