Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy

Wenhua Zhang, Feng Zhang, Yezhen Yang, Jiamin Cao, Ziyi Zhu Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ziyi Zhu, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South Universit...

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Main Authors: Zhang W, Zhang F, Yang Y, Cao J, Zhu Z
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-05-01
Series:International Journal of General Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/correlation-between-macular-microstructural-changes-with-disease-stagi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM
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author Zhang W
Zhang F
Yang Y
Cao J
Zhu Z
author_facet Zhang W
Zhang F
Yang Y
Cao J
Zhu Z
author_sort Zhang W
collection DOAJ
description Wenhua Zhang, Feng Zhang, Yezhen Yang, Jiamin Cao, Ziyi Zhu Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ziyi Zhu, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of China, Email 570104073@qq.comPurpose: To investigate the changes in macular microvascular structure at different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the correlation between macular ischemia and visual acuity.Patients and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 173 patients with DR were enrolled and divided into three groups according to DR stage. The control group consisted of 29 gender and age matched healthy individuals. Macular perfusion indexes were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compared.Results: The p-values of central foveal thickness (CFT), focal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and vessel density were less than 0.05 in DR patients and healthy individuals. As the severity of DR increased, there was a corresponding decline in visual acuity, the logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.40± 0.30 in mild-moderate NPDR, then worsened to 0.48 ± 0.30 (p=0.059) in severe NPDR and further to 0.60 ± 0.34 (p=0.043) in PDR. Superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density correlated negatively with logMAR BCVA (p< 0.001, R=− 0.267), whereas the severity of DR correlated positively with logMAR BCVA (p< 0.001, R=0.199). And increased DR stage was associated with significant reductions in foveal density at 300 μm (FD-300 μm; p=0.004) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density (p=0.009).Conclusion: Macular perfusion status decreases as DR progresses. Early changes of macular microvascular structure in different capillary plexus may indicate progression of DR severity and affect visual acuity.Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, macular perfusion status, visual acuity, OCT angiography
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spelling doaj-art-b0dba0e269d54dfd8517d4acb2db16be2025-06-25T21:56:42ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of General Medicine1178-70742025-05-01Volume 18Issue 126192628103111Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic RetinopathyZhang W0Zhang F1Yang YCao J2Zhu Z3Department of OphthalmologyDepartment of OphthalmologyophthalmologyDepartment of OphthalmologyWenhua Zhang, Feng Zhang, Yezhen Yang, Jiamin Cao, Ziyi Zhu Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ziyi Zhu, Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of China, Email 570104073@qq.comPurpose: To investigate the changes in macular microvascular structure at different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the correlation between macular ischemia and visual acuity.Patients and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 173 patients with DR were enrolled and divided into three groups according to DR stage. The control group consisted of 29 gender and age matched healthy individuals. Macular perfusion indexes were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compared.Results: The p-values of central foveal thickness (CFT), focal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and vessel density were less than 0.05 in DR patients and healthy individuals. As the severity of DR increased, there was a corresponding decline in visual acuity, the logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.40± 0.30 in mild-moderate NPDR, then worsened to 0.48 ± 0.30 (p=0.059) in severe NPDR and further to 0.60 ± 0.34 (p=0.043) in PDR. Superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density correlated negatively with logMAR BCVA (p< 0.001, R=− 0.267), whereas the severity of DR correlated positively with logMAR BCVA (p< 0.001, R=0.199). And increased DR stage was associated with significant reductions in foveal density at 300 μm (FD-300 μm; p=0.004) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density (p=0.009).Conclusion: Macular perfusion status decreases as DR progresses. Early changes of macular microvascular structure in different capillary plexus may indicate progression of DR severity and affect visual acuity.Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, macular perfusion status, visual acuity, OCT angiographyhttps://www.dovepress.com/correlation-between-macular-microstructural-changes-with-disease-stagi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGMdiabetic retinopathymacular perfusion statusvisual acuityOCT angiography
spellingShingle Zhang W
Zhang F
Yang Y
Cao J
Zhu Z
Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy
International Journal of General Medicine
diabetic retinopathy
macular perfusion status
visual acuity
OCT angiography
title Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy
title_full Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy
title_fullStr Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy
title_full_unstemmed Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy
title_short Correlation Between Macular Microstructural Changes with Disease Staging and Visual Acuity in Diabetic Retinopathy
title_sort correlation between macular microstructural changes with disease staging and visual acuity in diabetic retinopathy
topic diabetic retinopathy
macular perfusion status
visual acuity
OCT angiography
url https://www.dovepress.com/correlation-between-macular-microstructural-changes-with-disease-stagi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM
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