Retinal thickness analysis(RTA): an objective method to assess and quantify the retinal thickness in healthy controls and in diabetics without diabetic retinopathy.
BACKGROUND
Since it has been shown that photocoagulation is indicated in patients with diabetic macular edema, quantitative and objective assessment of retinal thickness is of clinical importance.


METHODS
A laser slit beam was projected on the retina and scanned across a 2 x 2 mm retinal area in 200 msec. Nine type 1 and 2 diabetic patients without funduscopically and photographically visible diabetic retinopathy and 10 healthy controls were scanned with the RTA. The intraindividual and interindividual variabilities of the RTA were determined.


RESULTS
The intraindividual and interindividual variability was 5 microm and 15 microm, respectively. The mean value of the mean foveal thickness (MFT) and perifoveal retinal thickness (PFT) in the 10 healthy controls was 152 +/- 15 microm and 175 +/- 14 microm, respectively, and 181 +/- 26 microm and 191 +/- 27 microm, respectively, in the group of nine diabetics without signs of diabetic retinopathy. The MFT in the group of diabetic patients was significantly (P < 0.001) larger than in the control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinal thickness in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy was increased in all measurements in comparison with the findings in healthy subjects. Retinal thickness measurements with the RTA could possibly detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy before funduscopic and photographic signs are visible and may be helpful in guiding treatment.
Fritsche
Peter
P
Department of Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Fritsche@vumc.nl
van der Heijde
Rob
R
Suttorp-Schulten
M S A
MS
Polak
Bettine C
BC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014894:Weights and Measures