Retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM: The aim of the following study is to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Average, inferior, and superior values of RNFL and GCC thickness were measured in 123 patients using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The values of participants with DM were compared to controls. Diabetic patients were collected in Groups 1, 2 and 3. Group 1 = 33 participants who had no diabetic retinopathy (DR); Group 2 = 30 participants who had mild nonproliferative DR and Group 3 = 30 participants who had moderate non-proliferative DR. The 30 healthy participants collected in Group 4. Analysis of variance test and a multiple linear regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The values of RNFL and GCC in the type 2 diabetes were thinner than controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is a nonsignificant loss of RNFL and GCC in patients with type 2 diabetes.