Abstract:Background: With the potential to offer more in-depth images of the macula than foveal avascular (FA) imaging, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is emerging as a novel imaging tool for the detection of diabetic macular ischemia (DMI). The study's goal was to determine the relationship between visual acuity (VA) in DMI, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and retinal vessel density (VD) as measured by OCTA, and the integrity of the outer retinal layers as measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT).
Methods: This a cross sectional research enrolled 25 eyes of 25 diabetic cases diagnosed with DMI using FFA, and 25 normal eyes as a control group. All cases underwent ocular exam including VA testing, anterior segment exam, intra ocular pressure, fundus exam, and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).
Results: Reduction of vision was noticed in ischemic cases, the mean BCVA for the cases was 0.88±0.27 (LogMAR), while for the control was 0.03±0.04. A statistically prominent positive relation was detected between best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (LogMAR) and (FAZ) area (rs=0.530, P=0.006), a statistically prominent negative relation was detected between BCVA (LoMAR) and both vessel area density (VAD) parameters (SCP and DCP) (VADSCP: rs= -0.415, P=0.039) (VADDCP: rs = -0.525, P =0.007).
Conclusions: OCTA allows for the quick, automated, and non-invasive quantification of vascular density and FAZ in DMI.
