Macular Blood Flows in Diabetic Patients

ABSTRACT

The authors investigated macular circulation in a group of 27 patients(54 eyes) with diabetes melitus to evaluate the change of macular blood flow according to the grade of retinopathy, the status of glucose control and the duration of diabetes. Blood volume, flow and velocity on macular area were measured by Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter(HRF, Heidelberg Engineering). Paticents with moderate or severe diabetic retinopathy showed a significant increase in macular blood flow than patients with less degree of diabetic retinopathy(502.45+/-223.58 AU vs, 355.19+/-123.84 AU, p=0.003). Both blood volume and velocity were also significantly increased in the patients with more advanced diabetic retinopathy. Macular blood flow was increased in the patients with higher fasting blood glucose, although the statistical significance was in borderline(473.12+/-238.57 AU vs, 362.14+/-103.22 AU, p=0.066). These results show that macular blood flow increases in the diabetic patients with more advanced diabetic retinopathy, suggesting that the increase in the macular blood flow may play a role in the development of diabetic macular microangiopathy.