Comparison of venous filling times and SLO findings at each quadrant region in diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract

Our purpose is to evaluate the correlation of retinal venous filling time (VFT), which reflects the peripheral retinal microcirculation in diabetic retinopathy, with fluorescein angiography (FAG) findings such as microaneurysm (MA), non-perfusion area (NP), neovascularization (NV) and relative retinal venous diameter (RRVD), and further, to evaluate the correlation between arteriovenous passage time (AVPT) and these factors. Partial F-test (multiple regression analysis) was performed on patients (32 eyes of diabetic retinopathy) who underwent video FAG, using scanning laser ophthalmoscope. In the four quadrants, VFT was compared with each MA, NP, and NV at each vascular arch at a distance of one disc diameter distant from the optic disc. VFT was significantly correlated to RRVD, NP, and NV at each quadrant (r > 0.7). However, AVPT was not significantly correlated to any of the factors studied. Delayed VFT was associated with the hemodynamic change of the peripheral retinal microcirculation at each quadrant in diabetic retinopathy. VFT can be used as an index to indicate the peripheral microcirculation of the retina.