Comparison of Central Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Diabetic Patients with and without Diabetic Retinopathy

Doi: 10.36351/pjo.v37i3.1207

Abstract

Purpose:  To compare the Central subfoveal choroidal thickness (CCT) in diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy.

Study Design:  Cross sectional observational study.

Place and Duration of Study:  Al-Ehsan Welfare Eye Hospital, Lahore, from June 2019 to May 2020.

Methods:  One hundred and twenty patients with type II diabetes were included with a mean age of57±0.9. Patients were divided into two groups (60 in each group) based on presence or absence of diabetic retinopathy after ophthalmic examination. Group A comprised of patients showing signs of retinopathy and group B with no signs of diabetic retinopathy. After detailed ophthalmic examination, spectral–domain OCT was performed for the measurement of central subfoveal choroidal thickness. The differences in measurements were analyzed and measured by using SPSS version 22.

Results:  Out of 120 patients, 69 (57.5%) were males and 51 were females (42.5%).  Mean age of patients was 58.8 ± 10 years with minimum 28 years and maximum 94 years. Central choroidal thickness in group A showed a mean value of 239 ± 41 µm with standard error of mean 3.76. While diabetic patients having no signs of diabetic retinopathy (Group B) showed mean subfoveal choroidal thickness of 240 ± 42 µm with standard error of mean 3.89. The difference in central subfoveal choroidal thickness in both groups was 1.337 which is statistically insignificant with p value of 0.250.

Conclusion:  Central choroidal thickness amongst diabetic patients with and without signs of retinopathy does not have any significant changes.

Key Words:  Choroid, Diabetic retinopathy, Optical Coherence Tomography.