Response to Comment on: Tikhonenko et al. (2010) Remodeling of Retinal Fatty Acids in an Animal Model of Diabetes: A Decrease in Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Is Associated with a Decrease in Fatty Acid Elongases Elovl2 and Elovl4. Diabetes;59:219–227

We thank Byeon and Chu (1) for initiating the discussion about potential mechanisms of decreased docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in diabetic eyes. The authors refer to their recent case report from two diabetic patients showing lower ratios of DHA in retinal hard exudates relative to plasma phospholipid levels. They speculate that lower levels of DHA in hard exudates are the result of higher DHA degradation; however, no direct evidence for DHA oxidation is provided in the study. Although we cannot speak to the mechanism of low DHA levels in hard exudates, we would …