The Evaluation of Retinal Sensitivity using SLO Microperimetry in Diabetic Patients.

Nam, Woo Ho; Kim, Do Kyun; Yu, Seung Young; Kwak, Hyung Woo

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2004;45(4):564-569.
Published online April 1, 2004.

The Evaluation of Retinal Sensitivity using SLO Microperimetry in Diabetic Patients.

Woo Ho Nam, Do Kyun Kim, Seung Young Yu, Hyung Woo Kwak

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Korea. hwkwak@khmc.or.kr
²Department of Ophthalmology, Myongji Hospital, Kwandong Univsrsity Hospital, Korea.

당뇨환자에서 SLO 미세시야계를 이용한 망막민감도조사

남우호 ( Nam U Ho ) , 김도균 ( Kim Do Gyun ) , 유승영 ( Yu Seung Yeong ) , 곽형우 ( Gwag Hyeong U )

Abstract

PURPOSE
Microperimetry with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) allows precise point-to-point correlation between visual functions and retinal pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the retinal sensitivity in patients with diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: We divided 15 eyes into 3 study based on the severity of the diabetic retinopathy and 5 healthy eyes as a control. Twenty eyes of 20 patients were prospectively examined with static manual microperimetry using the SLO (Scanning laser microscope 101, Rodenstock, Munich, Germany) to compare the retinal sensitivity according to the severity of retinal pathology. RESULTS: We observed a generalized decrease in retinal sensitivity in diabetic retinopathy patients. There was a significant decrease in retinal sensitivity over 5degrees in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the higher the degree of diabetic retinopathy, retinal sensitivity decreased. A decreased in retinal sensitivity was also observed with retinal hemorrhage, exudate and neovascularization. It may help in making management decisions in diabetic patients by offering sensitive parameters in addition to the visual acuity.

Key Words: Diabetic retinopathy;Retinal sensitivity;SLO microperimetry