Figure 3:

Loss of the subbasal nerve plexus in diabetes is associated with an increase in tear levels of IGFBP-3. (A-B) In vivo confocal microscopy of the subbasal nerve plexus in (A) healthy, non-diabetic controls, and (B) diabetics. Scale bar: 400 μm. (C) Nerve fiber length was inversely correlated with tear levels of IGFBP-3 (R=−0.522, P=0.001). (D) Nerve branch density was inversely correlated with tear levels of IGFBP-3 (R=−0.481, P=0.003). Images taken from Stuard et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017.[76]