Macular vascular features of different types of diabetic macular edema using ocular coherence tomography angiography- a comparative study

BACKGROUND: To compare the microvascular features of different subtypes of diabetic macular edema (DME) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: A cross-sectional study including treatment-naive patients with DME. Eyes were divided according to optical coherence tomography determined morphology into two groups: cystoid macular edema (CME) and diffuse retinal thickening (DRT), with further subdivision according to the presence of subretinal fluid. All patients underwent 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm OCTA scans of the macula to compare the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, vascular density (VD) of the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexus and choriocapillaris flow (CF). Laboratory findings (HbA1C and triglyceride levels) were also correlated with the OCTA findings. RESULTS: The study included 52 eyes, 27 had CME and 25 had DRT. There were no significant differences between the VD of the SCP (p = 0.684) and DCP (p = 0.437), FAZ of SCP (p = 0.574), FAZ of DCP (p = 0.563) and CF (p = 0.311). Linear regression analysis revealed that DME morphology was the strongest predictor for BCVA. Other significant predictors included HbA1C and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSION: The morphology of DME, irrespective of SRF, was most significantly correlated with BCVA in treatment-naive patients and CME subtype could be an independent predictor of poor BCVA in patients with DME.