Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Diabetic Patients with and without Diabetic Retinopathy

Study aims to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy and to assess the correlation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness among the cases diabetic retinopathy. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Department of Ophthalmology, PESIMSR, Kuppam during 2016–2019. Total 200 consecutive cataract known patients were selected based on SOP. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were employed to conduct the research work inclusion; all the patients with diabetes mellitus willing to give consent to clinical examination and evaluation. Exclusion; secondary glaucoma, patients who are mentally challenged, corneal and lenticular opacity, diabetic retinopathy with vitreous haemorrhage or retinal detachment and post retinal surgery. A total of 200 (400 eyes) cases were considered for the study group (G1:G2 = 100). Of which male comprises (61%) and females (39.0%), sex ratio 2:1. Diabetic status was recorded and it revealed that a total of 150 (75%) cases were subjected to diabetes and 50(25%) cases were subjected to non diabetes and it was found that the DM status is found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). As per the findings, the average RNFL in the case of RE was 95.58 ± 6.96 in DM with DR and 98.08 ± 1.44 in DM without DR. It was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). In case of RNFL of LE was 95.80 ± 6.93 in DM with DR and 98.18 ± 1.48 in DM without DR, it was also found that there is a statistically significant (p < 0.001) with and without DR. The superior retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (p < 0.001), nasal retinal fiber layer thickness (p < 0.001), inferior retinal nerve layer thickness (p < 0.001), temporal nerve fibre layer thickness, macular thickness (p < 0.001), HBa1C (p < 0.001), serum creatine and serum cholestrol (p < 0.001) were found to be statistically significant. The present study concludes that the optical coherence tomography is an important non invasive tool for the assessment and quantification of the RNFL thickness in diabetes patients, while on evaluating for DR.