Optical coherence tomography angiography findings of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy

Abstract

Purpose: To emphasize the importance of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the diagnosis and follow-up of diabetic individuals with and without retinopathy. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of healthy persons and diabetic individuals with and without retinopathy. Area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) (mm²), non-perfused areas in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), mean vessel density (VD) in the SCP, and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were calculated. In eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR), measurements at baseline, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months were evaluated. Results: This study conducted on 39 eyes of 23 patients with DR (group 1), 59 eyes of 30 diabetic individuals without DR (group 2), and 51 eyes of 27 healthy persons (group 3). When the mean area of the FAZ at baseline was compared between groups, the difference among groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.001) and the difference among groups 2 and 3 ( p = 0.001) were statistically significant. There was no significant difference among the measurements of mean area of the FAZ, mean non-perfused area in the SCP, mean VD in SCP, and DCP at baseline, 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months in group 1. Conclusion: OCTA is a developing technology that can detect early microvascular changes in diabetic patients.