Comparison of Choroidal Thickness in Normal Subjects and Patients with Diabetes

Aims: To evaluate choroidal thickness in diabetes patients and compare the measurements with normal subjects.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital, Department of Retina, between April 2014 and July 2014.

Methodology: 100 eyes of 100 diabetic patients (58 female, 42 male) and 50 eyes of 50 healthy subjects (28 female, 22 male) were included in this study. 50 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDRP) and 50 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) involved consecutively start from April 2014. Patients with macular edema were excluded. Choroidal thickness (CT) measured subfoveal and 500 μm intervals up to 1000 μm temporal and nasal to the fovea via Spectralis OCT EDI mode.

Results: There was no difference in age between the groups (p>0.05). The mean CT was 262.4±14.1 μm in control group, 221.2±34.3 μm in NPDRP group and 201.2±27.8 μm in PDR group. The subfoveal CT was significantly thinner in eyes with NPDRP or PDR than normal subjects (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between eyes with NPDRP and PDR (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Diabetic retinopathy effects CT and the central choroid is thinner in patients with NPDRP and PDR.