Quantifying changes in retinal anatomy after interventions for diabetic maculopathy

Abstract

Introduction

Diabetic maculopathy remains the major cause of loss of vision in diabetes. There is evidence to show that control of lipid levels reduces the amount of exudate in diabetic maculopathy, but to date there is no information on the effect of lipid reduction on diabetic macular oedema.

Purpose

The purpose of this case series was to compare retinal thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) of patients with exudative diabetic maculopathy whose only change in management was starting statins or increasing the current dose.

MethodsV"

Four patients with exudative diabetic maculopathy had serial OCT measurements to assess retinal thickness M before and after commencing or increasing their statin dose. Results

Analysis showed a reduction of macula thickness in all cases. Visual acuity also improved during the time course of the measurements.

Conclusion

Statins may aid management of diabetic maculopathy by reducing macular oedema. This case series gives the first quantified evidence of the effect of statins on reduction of diabetic macular oedema.