Retinal thickness in diabetic and non-diabetic patients using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)

This study aimed to determine the average retinal thickness with and without diabetes using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). Known diabetic and non-diabetic respondents from Diabetic Eye Clinic & General OPD having no clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy on fundus examination were selected in this study. All the participants gave informed written informed consent. A total of 80 patients (n=156 eyes) were recruited in this study. Average central thickness was 249 µm and 246 µm in diabetic and non-diabetic patients respectively. On quadrant wise evaluation, retinal thickness in diabetic and non-diabetic (Healthy Eye) were: Nasal =310 µm and 324 µm), Temporal =291 µm and 304 µm, Superior =297 µm and 316µm, and Inferior= 292 µm and 314 µm). Retinal thicknesses were greater at nasal and lesser at temporal areas.In conclusion retinal thickness measured in diabetic patients was found to be less in non-diabetic patients. Age and gender were other related demographic factors that influenced macular thickness measurements.