Retinal ganglion cell neuronal damage in diabetes and diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Background: To examine the association of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR) with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss. Design: Observational case–control study. Participants: Type 2 diabetes cases and age-gender matched controls without diabetes. Methods: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters of RGCs were calculated after automated segmentation of macular scans. DR severity was graded on fundus photographs using the modified Airlie House Classification system. Generalized estimating equation was used to compare OCT parameters between cases and controls, adjusted for covariates. Main Outcome Measures: Average ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and average re..