Macular Thickness in Diabetic Subjects Without Retinopathy

Abstract

The recent report by Kashani and associates analyzing retinal thickness by race, gender, and age adds to the growing literature on optical coherence tomography measured retinal parameters in different populations. 1 Kashani A.H. Zimmer-Galler I.E. Shah S.M. et al. Retinal thickness analysis by race, gender, and age using Stratus OCT. Am J Ophthalmol. 2010; 149: 496-502 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (115) Google Scholar Kashani and associates reported Stratus OCT measurements of macular parameters in white, black, and Hispanic individuals of both sexes, including those with diabetes but without retinopathy. They reported no significant differences in the macular parameters of individuals with diabetes without retinopathy compared with controls, using data adjusted for race, gender, and age group. They also reported that mean foveal thickness and foveal center point thickness were statistically greater in males than in females. Black persons had a significantly thinner mean foveal thickness and center point thickness than either white or Hispanic individuals in this study. Retinal Thickness Analysis by Race, Gender, and Age Using Stratus OCTAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 149Issue 3PreviewTo detect differences in retinal thickness among patients of different race, gender, and age using Stratus OCT. Full-Text PDF ReplyAmerican Journal of OphthalmologyVol. 150Issue 2PreviewWe appreciate the interest and comments about our article.1 Drs Tariq and Mitchell state that some literature on Stratus OCT report retinal thinning in diabetics with minimal or no diabetic retinopathy (DR)2,3—in contrast to our article, which reported no thinning compared with controls.1 Drs Tariq and Mitchell also ask whether such discrepancy between studies may be accounted for by correcting for the effects of race, age, and sex on retinal thickness (as we did in our study). This is an excellent point and, in our opinion, a very important consideration when designing or interpreting studies with OCT-based outcomes. Full-Text PDF