Association between risk factors and retinal nerve fiber layer loss in early stages of diabetic retinopathy

AIM:To investigate the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)among normal individuals,diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy(NDR)and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),and explore the possible risk factors of early diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,107 participants were divided in three groups.Totally 31 normal individuals(control group),40 diabetic patients without DR(NDR group)and 36 patients with NPDR(NPDR group)were included.Optical coherence tomography(OCT)was used to detect RNFL thickness and other optic disc parameters among different groups.The potential association between RNFL loss and systemic risk factors were assessed for DR,including diabetes duration,body mass index(BMI),hemoglobin A1 c(Hb A1 c),serum lipids,and blood pressure.RESULTS:The average and each quadrant RNFL thickness were thinner in NPDR group compared to control group of the right(P=0.00,P=0.01,P=0.01,P=0.02,P=0.04)and left eyes(P=0.00,P=0.00,P=0.00,P=0.03,P=0.04).The average,superior and inferior RNFL thickness were thinner in NDR group compared to the NPDR group of the right(P=0.00,P=0.02,P=0.03)and left eyes(P=0.00,P=0.00,P=0.01).Diabetic duration was negatively correlated with the superior,inferior,and average RNFL thickness of the right(r=-0.385,P=0.001;r=-0.366,P=0.001;r=-0.503,P=0.000)and left eyes(r=-0.271,P=0.018;r=0.278,P=0.015;r=-0.260,P=0.023).Hb A1 c was negatively correlated with the superior,inferior,and average RNFL thickness of the right(r=-0.316 P=0.005;r=-0.414,P=0.000;r=-0.418,P=0.000)and left eyes(r=-0.367,P=0.001;r=-0.250,P=0.030;r=-0.393,P=0.000).Systolic pressure was negatively correlated with the inferior and average RNFL thickness of the right eye(r=-0.402,P=0.000;r=-0.371,P=0.001)and was negatively correlated with the superior and average RNFL thickness of the left eye(r=-0.264,P=0.021;r=-0.233,P=0.043).CONCLUSION:RNFL loss,especially in the superior and inferior quadrants,may be the earliest structural change of the retina in diabetic patients,and is also associated with diabetic duration,Hb A1 c,and systolic pressure.

A patient misdiagnosed with central serous chorioretinopathy: A case report

BACKGROUND Due to some similarities in the manifestations between central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV),PCV may be misdiagnosed as CSC.More attention should be paid to distinguishing these two disorders.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old woman presented to our hospital with blurred vision in her left eye for approximately 1 wk.Anterior segment and intraocular pressure findings were normal in both eyes.Fundus photography of the left eye showed a seemingly normal adult oculus fundus without any obvious hard exudate or hemorrhage.Optical coherence tomography exhibited a hypo-reflective space beneath both the neurosensory retina and the pigment epithelium layer.The late phase of fluorescein angiography revealed increased leakage.The patient was initially diagnosed with CSC.At follow-up,however,the final diagnosis turned out to be PCV.CONCLUSION CSC and PCV are two different retinal entities.Lipid deposition and hemorrhage are the most important elements that lead to confusion between these two entities.Indocyanine green angiography should be performed to make a definitive diagnosis,especially in cases with suspected PCV.