ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MACULAR PERFUSION AND PHOTORECEPTOR LAYER STATUS IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA

Abstract

Purpose: 

To evaluate the relationship between the photoreceptor layer status (inner segment ellipsoid band and external limiting membrane) and the foveal avascular zone size, as a result of macular perfusion, in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Methods: 

This observational case series study included 151 eyes of 118 patients with naive diabetic macular edema. The length of the disrupted photoreceptor layer was assessed by optical coherence tomography. The foveal avascular zone diameter was measured on fluorescein angiogram.

Results: 

No significant association was found between the foveal avascular zone size and the mean lengths of the disrupted inner segment ellipsoid band nor the external limiting membrane in patients with naive diabetic macular edema.

Conclusion: 

Macular ischemia, which lengthens the distance from the perifoveal vessels to the center of the fovea and may disrupt the normal flow of nutrients by simple diffusion to the photoreceptor line, does not seem to influence on inner segment ellipsoid band nor external limiting membrane integrity. Future studies may evaluate the effect of choroidal vascularization on the photoreceptor layer status to enhance the knowledge about the photoreceptor layer nutrients source.

In Brief

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the photoreceptor layer status and the foveal avascular zone size in patients with diabetic macular edema. In view of our results, macular perfusion does not seem to influence on photoreceptor line integrity.