摘要
Background:Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness among working-age people worldwide.The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of a carotenoid supplementation on retinal thickness and macular function of patients with diabetes using optical coherence tomography(OCT)and multifocal electroretinography(mfERG).Methods:A retrospective study of one hundred and twenty eyes of sixty patients age between 40 and 60 years with non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy who underwent OCT and mfERG and took vitamin supplements for a period of two years.Patients received a carotenoid supplement containing lutein(10 mg),zeaxanthin(2 mg)and meso-zeaxanthin(10 mg)once a day for two years.The thickness of the fovea was evaluated using OCT and the macular function was tested by mfERG.Results:OCT showed an increase in the central foveal thickness and mfERG revealed increased retinal response density within the central 13°surrounding the fovea(rings 1 to 3)at two years after the onset of carotenoids supplement intake.Conclusion:The use of carotenoid supplements may be of benefit for improving visual function of type 2 diabetes patients.However,further study is needed to assess the treatment’s long-term efficacy.
