Quadrant-Wise Assessment of Macular Thickness in Diabetics Without Diabetic Retinopathy and Non-Diabetic Patients Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Doi: 10.36351/pjo.v42i2.2157

Abstract

Purpose:  To measure retinal thickness across superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants in diabetic patientswithout diabetic retinopathy and non-diabetic patients using spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography(SD-OCT).

Study Design:  It is aCross-sectional observational Study.

Place and Duration of Study:  Gujranwala teaching hospital, Gujranwala from October 2024 to February 2025.

Methods:  The study included 60 participants: 30 patients with previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy, and 30 non-diabetic individuals. Participants of both genders and aged 30–70 years, were recruited. All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy for anterior and posterior segment examination to identify features of diabetic retinopathy or other ocular pathologies, and SD-OCT (OptovueiVue 3000, Medmont) for quantitative assessment of retinal thickness in all four quadrants. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.

Results:  There were 28 (46.6%) males. The mean retinal thickness was 297 ± 18 µm in diabetics and 308 ± 15 µm in non-diabetics, while the mean foveal thickness measured by SD-OCT was 244 ± 14 µm and 237 ± 9 µm, respectively. Quadrant-wise analysis revealed that temporal retinal thickness was significantly reduced compared to the superior, inferior, and nasal quadrants in both diabetics without diabetic retinopathy and non-diabetic participants.

Conclusion:  There was significant thinning across all four retinal quadrants, most marked in temporal quadrant in type 2 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. These findings suggest that neurodegenerative changes in the retina may precede visible vascular changes.