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Subject Area

Ophthalmology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the retinal layer metrics and visual acuity (VA) in diabetics with and without diabetic macular edema (DME). Background Diabetes is known to cause alterations in retinal microvasculature that progressively lead to visual impairment. In the current study, we determined the association between VA and retinal layer metrics derived from optical coherence tomography images in patients with and without DME. Patients and methods A case–control study was conducted on 216 eyes at the Department of Ophthalmology, Menoufia University Hospital. Group 1 included 40 eyes of type I diabetics, group 2 included 68 eyes of type II diabetics, and group 3 included 108 eyes of controls. Two subgroups of diabetic patients comprised 49 eyes with DME and 59 eyes without DME. Each patient underwent ophthalmic examination, VA, and optical coherence tomography. Results Our results revealed significant differences in best-corrected VA, a significant increase in the central foveal thickness, a significant increase of the temporal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in diabetics, which was associated with reduced VA, and a significant thinning of the superior ganglion cell layer thickness. In patients with DME, we found a significant increase of the superior ganglion cell layer thickness and thinning of the nasal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. These measurements as well as macular thickening were associated with reduced VA. Conclusion The variations in retinal layer thickness were associated with reduced VA with and without DME.

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