OCTA detects and analyzes retinal vascular density changes from diabetes to diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Background To detect various indicators of retinal vascular plexus through optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in non-diabetics and diabetics at various stages, and to analyze the characteristics of retinal microcirculation during each stage of diabetes. Methods OCTA was used to detect the four groups, namely non-diabetic, non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Furthermore, it was also used to measure the retinal vascular density (VD) of the fovea, parafovea, and perifovea areas of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). Results The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) visual acuity of the four groups of patients revealed a gradual upward trend, and a significant statistical difference (P < 0.001). The VD of Whole, Parafovea and Perifovea of SCP and DCP were compared between the control group, NDR group, NPDR group and PDR group, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in VD between the SCP and DCP of the fovea in the four groups (P > 0.001). The whole blood vessel density of the superficial retina and deep retina was significantly negatively correlated with LogMAR visual acuity (P < 0.001); There was no significant correlation observed between the superficial and deep fovea VD and LogMAR vision (P > 0.001). The superficial and deep parafovea VD exhibited a significant negative correlation with LogMAR vision (P < 0.001). The superficial and deep perifovea VD was significantly negatively correlated with LogMAR visual acuity (P < 0.001). Conclusion OCTA is a potential non-invasive imaging tool that can assist in monitoring the development of diabetic retinopathy, and the longer the disease period, the more obvious the decrease of retinal VD in patients.