Confocal retinal microscopy - the new non-invasive method for diagnostics of the early manifestations of the lesions in the peripheral nervous system associated with diabetes mellitus

There are presently no reliable methods for diagnostics of the early manifestations of the lesions in the peripheral nervous system. Only puncture biopsy of the skin and the nerves can be used at the preclinical stage. However, the application of these invasive methods is fraught with the risk of infectious complications. Confocal retinal microscopy is the new non-invasive morphometric technique that permits to reveal the early signs of the lesions in the peripheral nervous system and to study dynamics of the associated changes that can be used as a valid surrogate end point for the evaluation of the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy.