The HD-OCT Study May Be Useful in Searching for Markers of Preclinical Stage of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the thickness of individual retinal layers in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in comparison to the control group and in relation to markers of diabetes metabolic control. The study group consisted of 111 patients with an average of 6-years of T1D duration. The control group included 36 gender- and age-matched individuals. In all patients optical coherence tomography (OCT) study was performed using HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 with evaluation of optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) with its quadrants, macular full-thickness parameters, ganglion cells with inner plexus layer (GCIPL) and choroidal thickness (CT). Lower disc area value was observed in the study group as compared to controls (p = 0.0215). Negative correlations were found both between age at examination and rim area (R = −0.28, p = 0.0007) and between superior RNFL thickness and duration of diabetes (R = −0.20, p = 0.0336). Positive correlation between center thickness and SD for average glycemia (R = 0.30, p = 0.0071) was noted. Temporal CT correlated positively with age at examination (R = 0.21, p = 0.0127). The selected parameters the HD-OCT study may in the future serve as potential markers of preclinical phase of DR in patients with T1D.

Ophthalmologic disorders in adolescents with type 1 diabetes

“…Recently, there has been a report in Polish literature discussing the results of eye examinations in adolescent patients with type 1 diabetes. These results confirm that it is necessary to use modern diagnostic methods for the early detection of ocular complications in adolescent patients [25,31]. It should be remembered that early changes in the organ of vision may not give clear clinical symptoms, and their detection requires the use of modern diagnostic methods.…”

“…Recently, Chinese authors have presented results of their research on the thickness of choroid, optic disc, and macular thickness in children with type 1 diabetes [24]. Other authors have also drawn attention to the need to use modern diagnostic methods for early detection of changes in the organ of vision in adolescent diabetic patients [25].…”

Strong Correlation of Renal Function with Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

“…Some studies described thinning of the neuronal retina and thickening of choroidal layer in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy [ 32 ]. However, the participants have proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema in this study.…”

Evaluation of Foveal and Parafoveal Microvascular Changes Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Type 2 Diabetes Patients without Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy in South Korea

“…The most common early clinically visible manifestations of DR include microaneurysm formation and intraretinal hemorrhage. At present, ophthalmoscopy and color fundus photography are still the gold standards for the diagnosis and staging of DR [ 4 , 5 ]. However, microvascular damage is known to occur before findings of retinopathy become apparent on clinical examination or fundus photography.…”