Stereoscopic fluorescein angiography in diabetic maculopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible differences in the depth location of microaneurysms in focal as well as diffuse diabetic macular edema.


METHODS
The density of superficial and deep retinal microaneurysms was assessed using a stereoscopic fluorescein angiographic method.


RESULTS
The density of deep retinal microaneurysms was nearly identical in the group with diffuse macular edema (89.9 +/- 28.5 microaneurysms/test grid) and the group with focal macular edema (90 +/- 65.4 microaneurysms/test grid). The density of superficial retinal microaneurysms was significantly lower in the group with diffuse macular edema (22.8 +/- 12.5) than in the group with focal macular edema (47.9 +/- 30.6). The density fraction of superficial retinal microaneurysms was lower in the group with diffuse macular edema (0.19 +/- 0.07) than in the group with focal macular edema (0.36 +/- 0.14). In the group with focal macular edema, areas without edema had a significantly lower density of superficial (6.1 +/- 2.8) and deep (15.6 +/- 7.8) retinal microaneurysms than did areas with edema (superficial: 47.9 +/- 30.6; deep: 90.0 +/- 65.4). In the group with focal macular edema, the density fraction of superficial retinal microaneurysms was nearly identical in areas with (0.36 +/- 0.14) and areas without (0.30 +/- 0.10) edema.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of focal macular edema might be linked to the density of microaneurysms. Diffuse macular edema might be a result of some unknown effect on the deeper retina and/or the choroid.
Jensen
Dalia B
DB
Department of Ophthalmology, Arhus University Hospital, Aalborg Sygehus Syd, Hobrovej 18-22, DK-9000 Aalborg Sygehus, Denmark.
Knudsen
Lars L
LL
D000783:Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*