ASSOCIATION OF SERUM LIPID LEVELS WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Abstract

AIM:To study the association of serum lipids with retinal hard exudates formation, occurrence of clinically signicant macular oedema (CSME) and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes METHODS:Type 2 diabetic patients seeking ocular evaluation for diabetic retinopathy were included in this cross-sectional study. They were assessed for presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR), presence of hard exudates, clinically signicant macular oedema (CSME) .Retinal ndings were correlated to serum lipids levels . RESULTS:Totally 100 patients were included, of which 42/100 had diabetic retinopathy of any grade. Retinal hard exudates formation was found to have statistically signicant correlation with the presence of dyslipidemia (p=0.02), increased cholesterol (p=0.002) and LDL levels (p=0.001). The occurrence of CSME showed a statistically signicant correlation with dyslipidemia (p=0.04) and increased LDL levels (p=0.04). Neither occurrence of dyslipidemia nor the increased levels of the various components of serum lipids showed a statistically signicant correlation with high Triglyceride levels or Low HDL-C or increasing severity of diabetic retinopathy CONCLUSION:Elevated serum lipids showed a signicant association with retinal hard exudate formation, CSME in type 2 diabetics. Lipid lowering agents may help in reducing the occurrence of these retinal ndings in diabetic patients.