Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the early changes in the thickness of the macula and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) by Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography in patients with diabetes mellitus.
Methods: :
The macular thickness was measured in 31 normal subjects without any optic nerve and retinal diseases (Control), 45 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (NDR), and 24 diabetic patients with pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PPDR) without clinically significant macular edema. The RNFL thickness was measured in 30 normal subjects (Control), 45 patients classified as NDR, and 22 patients classified as PPDR.
Results: :
In patients with NDR, the maculas were significantly thinner than that of the control eyes. In patients with PPDR, the mean RNFL thickness was significantly thinner but the macular thickness was thicker than that of the control eyes. In women with NDR, the macular thickness was significantly thinner than that of men with NDR and that of the normal women. In men with PPDR, the RNFL thickness was significantly thinner than that of the control eyes.
Conclusions: :
At the early stage of diabetic retinopathy, the maculas and RNFL thicknesses are altered. The macular and RNFL thickness are different in men and women.
Keywords: diabetes • macula/fovea • nerve fiber layer