•  
  •  
 

Subject Area

Ophthalmology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) consists of microvascular changes, although recent investigations have demonstrated that neurodegeneration may occur earlier. Objectives To assess ganglion-cell complex thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in diabetic patients without retinopathy. Patients and methods This was a cross-sectional case–control study conducted at Shebin El kom Ophthalmology Hospital and Tiba Ophthalmological Center on 200 patients divided into two groups: group A involves 100 diabetic patients without DR. Group B involves 100 healthy controls. All participants underwent full ophthalmological and medical history, ophthalmological examination with measurement of the macular ganglion-cell layer–inner-plexiform layer (GCL–IPL) thickness, and retinal nerve-fiber-layer (RNFL) thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results Macular GCL–IPL and RNFL thickness were thinner in diabetic patients without retinopathy when compared with healthy controls. The average GCL–IPL was 4.17 μm thinner (95% confidence interval: 1.96–6.38) (P < 0.001) and the average RNFL was 18.65 μm thinner (95% confidence interval: 16.82–20.47) (P < 0.001) in diabetic patients than controls. Conclusion There was statistically significant thinning in the GCL–IPL and RNFL thickness in the diabetic patient without retinopathy compared with the control group, indicating that diabetes mellitus causes neurodegenerative changes before vascular changes of DR appear.

Download

Share

COinS