Article title. Analysis of the central zone of the retina in patients with diabetic macular edema
Authornames. BikbovМ.М., Fayzrakhmanov R.R., Yarmukhametova А.L., Zainullin R.M.
Affiliation. Ufa Eye Research Institute, Ufa, Russia.
Abstract.
Aim. To assess morphological changes of the retinal layers and macular pigment optical densityin patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) for diagnostic criterion of the pathological process.
Materials and methods. 31 patients were divided in two groups. The first group (A) include 19 patients with DME (20 eyes), the second group (B) - 12 patients (20 eyes) was without retinal pathology. Both groups were comparable with regard to age. Performance assessment carried out by the following methods: by optical coherence tomography (OCT) of macular area of the retina; photo-registration fundus with the measurement of the optical density of macular pigment (MPOD); microperimetry.
Results. OCT analysis showed that the most involved in the pathological process are the inner nuclear and mesh layers of the retina, which revealed significant differences in the average increase in retinal thickness as compared with the control group. In the analysis of MPOD revealed a significant reduction of all parameters in patients in group A compared with the control group. Based on the data of the central area of the retina microperimetry patients in group A light sensitivity indicators were reduced by an average of 9 dB and made 9,85 ± 0,09 dB. An analysis of the data revealed gross violations of retinal structure and distribution of macular pigment optical density in patients with DME. Correlation analysis of retinal thickness, functional light sensitivity and the optical density of the macular pigment an correlation was strongly (r = -0,93; p <0,05) between the indices of retinal thickness and MPOD.
Conclusions. Diabetic macular edema showed a sharp drop in the optical density of the macular pigment, is determined deficiency of lutein and zeaxantin. Established correlation between a quantitative indicator of macular pigment optical density and area of edema was significantly reduced light sensitivity in the central part of the retina.
Keywords: diabetic macular edema, macular pigment optical density, optical coherence tomography, microperimetry.