Early detection of Macular changes in Diabetic Patients using Rarebit Fovea Test and Optical Coherence Tomography
- Maria Nilsson (maria.nilsson{at}ste.ki.se),
- Gunvor von Wendt (gunvor.vonwendt{at}sankterik.se),
- Peter Wanger (peter.wanger{at}ki.se),
- Lene M Martin (lene.martin{at}ste.ki.se)
- Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Department of Vitroretinal Diseases, St Erik Eye Hospital, Sweden
- Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Published Online First 25 June 2007
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate central retinal thickness and foveal function using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the Rarebit Fovea Test (RFT) in diabetic patients without previously known retinopathy or maculopathy.
Method: Forty-two patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were selected from the screening records at St Erik Eye Hospital. Inclusion criteria were absence of macular or other retinal changes at previous screening examination and best corrected visual acuity ≥ 1.0. These patients and 42 healthy controls were examined with the recently developed RFT and retinal thickness was measured using OCT. Lens thickness and light scatter was evaluated by Scheimpflug photography.
Results: Significantly more DM subjects (12/42) had a subnormal RFT result compared to the controls (2/42) (p = 0.007). None of the 12 DM subjects had maculopathy, 1 had mild non proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 5 had minimal non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The retinal thickness in the inner OCT zone was significantly (p<0.05) thinner in DM patients with subnormal RFT compared with the controls.
Conclusion: Decreased RT and subnormal RFT results were found in a subgroup of diabetes patients, despite normal screening results. Prospective studies are underway to evaluate the prognostic implications.
