Functional and structural changes in the macula in diabetic retinopathy – A correlative study

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to study the correlation of macular thickness and sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was done on 77 eyes with diabetic retinopathy. Patients were divided into three groups as follows: Group 1 – Diabetic retinopathy without maculopathy, Group 2 – Diabetic maculopathy without clinically significant macular edema (CSME), and Group 3 – CSME. Microperimetry was used to assess macular sensitivity, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure retinal thickness. Comparison of retinal sensitivity and thickness was done between groups. Correlation of these parameters to duration of diabetes was also done. Results: The mean macular sensitivity (in dB) in Groups 1, 2, and 3 was 11.57, 11.51, and 8.03, respectively. The mean central macular thickness in Groups 1, 2, and 3 was 199.33, 208.62, and 334.25 μm, respectively. There was statistically significant difference in macular thickness and in macular sensitivity between Groups 1 and 3 (P 0.09). Macular sensitivity had a moderate correlation with macular thickness, which was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Macular sensitivity was found to decrease with increasing macular thickness.

Keywords

• macular sensitivity
• macular thickness
• microperimetry