Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.58(12) > 1010685

Kim, Jeong, Yang, and Choi: Changes of the Individual Retinal Layer Thickness in Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose

To compare retinal layer thickness in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients as measured by optical coherence tomography.

Methods

A total of 108 eyes from 71 patients, between January 2015 and July 2016, were included in this study. Of these, 39 eyes were included in the control group, 38 eyes in the diabetic group without non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 31 eyes in the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy group (NPDR). We measured the thickness of each retinal layer by optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of ten layers were evaluated including the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), inner retinal layer (IRL), outer retinal layer (ORL), and the total retinal layer (TRL). We compared the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal regions at 1–3mm from the central fovea.

Results

RNFL was thinner in the superior region of the NPDR, as compared with that of the control group, showing statistical significance (p = 0.016). The thickness of all regions in the GCL, IPL, and IRL were decreased in NPDR, as compared to the control group with statistical significance. In addition, the thickness of the superior region in the GCL, IPL, and IRL showed statistically significant differences between controls and the no diabetic retinopathy (DR) group (p = 0.026, 0.003, 0.003). The thickness of the INL, OPL plus ONL, RPE, and ORL in all three groups showed no significant difference. The differences in the decreased thickness in the IRL were similar to that of TRL.

Conclusions

Retinal neurodegeneration was observed in the IRL, which included changes to the RNFL, GCL, and IPL in early type 2 diabetes before microvascular injury was apparent. Thorough control of blood glucose is required in early diabetes, and further studies to delay retinal neurodegeneration are required. OCT might have an important role in early diagnosis and follow up of diabetic retinopathy.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Optical coherence tomography image of right eye. The normal retinal layers are visible.

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Figure 2

The Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) can segment each retinal layer and measure thickness of each segmented layer by early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grid through thickness map. The image below is analysis using inner nuclear layer.

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Figure 3

Early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grid. First, draw circles by diameter of 1, 3, 6 mm with central fovea as its center. Then the areas are divided into quadrisected space of superior, inferior, nasal and temporal region in each inner circle (between 1 mm and 3 mm) and outer circle (between 3 mm and 6 mm). In this research, thickness of retinal layers are compared in superior, inferior, nasal and temporal region, respectively, at area between 1 mm and 3 mm of diameter (orange region).

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Figure 4

The graphs show thickness of all retinal layers automatically measured by early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) grid. (A) Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). (B) Ganglion cell layer (GCL). (C) Inner plexiform layer (IPL). (D) Inner nuclear layer (INL). (E) Outer plexiform layer (OPL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL). (F) Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). (G) Inner retinal layer (IRL). (H) Outer retinal layer (ORL). (I) Total retinal layer (TRL). DR = diabetic retinopathy; NPDR = non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

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Table 1

Demographic characteristics of control subjects and subjects with diabetes mellitus

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The values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

DR = diabetic retinopathy; BCVA = best corrected visual acuity; IOP = intraocular pressure; DM = diabetes mellitus.

*p-value for three-group comparison by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test; Chi-square test; Independent T-test.

Table 2

Retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer thickness of control group and groups with diabetes

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The values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

DR = diabetic retinopathy; NPDR = non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy; RNFL = retinal nerve fiber layer; GCL = ganglion cell layer; IPL = inner plexiform layer.

*p-value for three-group comparison by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test; Comparison between control and no DR group; Comparison between control and NPDR group; §Comparison between no DR and NPDR group.

Table 3

Inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform plus outer nuclear layer and retinal pigment epithelium thickness of control group and groups with diabetes

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The values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

DR = diabetic retinopathy; NPDR = non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy; INL = inner nuclear layer; OPL = outer plexiform layer; ONL = outer nuclear layer; RPE = retinal pigment epithelium.

*p-value for three-group comparison by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.

Table 4

Inner retinal layer, outer retinal layer and total retinal layer thickness of control group and groups with diabetes

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The values are presented as mean ± SD unless otherwise indicated.

DR = diabetic retinopathy; NPDR = non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy; IRL = inner retinal layer; ORL = outer retinal layer; TRL = total retinal layer.

*p-value for three-group comparison by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test; Comparison between control and no DR group; Comparison between control and NPDR group; §Comparison between no DR and NPDR group.

Notes

Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

This study was presented as a poster at the 117th Annual Meeting of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2017.

This study was supported by research fund of Wonkwang University in 2016.

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