The impairment of the deep vascular complex in prolonged type 2 diabetes patients without clinical diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Purpose To identify the effects of prolonged type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on the retinal microvasculature of each retinal capillary plexus in patients without clinical diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods Subjects were divided into three groups: the control group (98 eyes), patients with T2DM Results The mean VDs of the SCP in the control group, DM group 1, and DM group 2 were 35.9 ± 4.2, 34.9 ± 3.9, and 34.6 ± 5.1, respectively (P = 0.042). The mean VDs of the DCP in the three groups were 36.1 ± 3.1, 35.9 ± 3.0, and 34.0 ± 3.3, respectively (P Conclusions T2DM patients without DR showed decreased VD in the SCP and DCP. The microvascular impairment of the DCP in patients with T2DM ≥ 10 years was in particular, more severe. Additionally, ischemia caused by hypertension and accumulated impairment of microvasculature due to prolonged T2DM would affect the DCP.