Changes of macular and RNFL thicknesses measured by Stratus OCT in patients with early stage diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the early differences in the thicknesses of the macula and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) by Stratus optical coherence tomography in patients with diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Thirty-one normal participants without any optic nerve and retinal diseases (control), 45 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (NDR), and 24 diabetic patients with preproliferative diabetic retinopathy (PPDR), who did not have clinically significant macular oedema, were used for the macular thickness measurements. Thirty control participants, 45 patients classified as NDR, and 22 patients classified as PPDR were used for the RNFL thickness measurements.


RESULTS
In patients with NDR, macula was significantly thinner than that of control eyes. In patients with PPDR, the mean RNFL thickness was significantly thinner but the macula was thicker than that of control eyes. In women with NDR, the macula was significantly thinner than that of men with NDR and that of normal women. In men with PPDR, the RNFL thickness was significantly thinner than that of the control eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
At the early stage of diabetic retinopathy, the maculas and RNFL thicknesses are altered. The macular and RNFL thicknesses are different in men and women.
Oshitari
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Sensory Organ Diseases, Sannoh Medical Center, Chiba, Japan. Tarii@aol.com
Hanawa
K
K
Adachi-Usami
E
E
D000368:Aged; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D012160:Retina; D012737:Sex Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*