DR. SANJANA CHILUKURI

Dr. NARAYANAN BALAKRISHNAN, Dr. SUHAS PRABHAKAR, Dr. C. ARAVIND BABU

Abstract

AIM: To assess the retinal nerve fiber layer changes in patients with diabetes but no retinopathy and to establish a possible early marker of retinal damage

Materials and Methods: Cross sectional comparative study. 130 eyes of 65 patients with diabetes but no evidence of retinopathy and 65 age matched controls were included in the study. We excluded all patients with NPDR and glaucomatous damage. OCT RNFL was performed to assess RNFL thickness in all quadrants and was compared to HbA1C levels and to controls.

Results : We found that the Average global RNFL thickness and in the superior(122.85 as compared to 128.8)r and inferior quadrants (119.35 as compared to 130)were significantly less than the aged matched controls (p<0.05). A significant inverse correlation between HbA1c levels and RNFL thickness was also observed. Conclusion: The average RNFL thickness in patients with diabetes as compared to controls is reduced and this could serve as an early marker for retinal damage.

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