%0 Journal Article
%T The Diagnostic Function of OCT in Diabetic Maculopathy
%A Bartosz L. Sikorski
%A Grazyna Malukiewicz
%A Joanna Stafiej
%A Hanna Lesiewska-Junk
%A Dorota Raczynska
%J Mediators of Inflammation
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/434560
%X Diabetic maculopathy (DM) is one of the major causes of vision impairment in individuals with diabetes. The traditional approach to diagnosis of DM includes fundus ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography. Although very useful clinically, these methods do not contribute much to the evaluation of retinal morphology and its thickness profile. That is why a new technique called optical coherence tomography (OCT) was utilized to perform cross-sectional imaging of the retina. It facilitates measuring the macular thickening, quantification of diabetic macular oedema, and detecting vitreoretinal traction. Thus, OCT may assist in patient selection with DM who can benefit from treatment, identify what treatment is indicated, guide its implementing, and allow precise monitoring of treatment response. It seems to be the technique of choice for the early detection of macular oedema and for the followup of DM. 1. Introduction Diabetic retinopathy is the name given to the changes in the retina, which develop over a period of time in diabetics. It remains one of the major causes of new-onset visual loss in developed countries. If the central part of the retina (i.e., the macula) is involved, it is referred to as diabetic maculopathy. This is the most common cause of vision impairment in individuals with diabetic retinopathy [1]. The traditional approach to diagnosis of diabetic maculopathy includes fundus ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography (FA) [2]. The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) identified stereoscopic slit-lamp biomicroscopy and stereo colour fundus photography as standard methods of macular thickness assessment utilized in order to determine whether the treatment should be commenced as they defined the clinically significant macular oedema (ETDRS report number 10, 1991). However, these methods are subjective and relatively insensitive to small changes in retinal thickness and, therefore, may be unable to identify mild or localized macular thickening [3]. They also do not provide any data on retinal morphology and blood flow. On the other hand, FA is a highly effective test of evaluating retinal blood vessels, macular perfusion, and pattern of leakage causing the oedema. Although very useful clinically, it also does not contribute much to the evaluation of retinal morphology and its thickness profile. In 1991 the researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University patented the technique of optical coherence tomography (OCT), which was a major breakthrough in ophthalmic diagnostics (US5321501 A, Swanson EA,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/2013/434560/