OPTIC DISC MORPHOLOGY IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease affecting multiple tissues throughout the body. This study was performed to evaluate int ravitally the diabetic changes of the optic disc Methods: Color photog raphs of 115 eyes with varying severity of diabetic retinopathy and of 29 normal eyes were morphometrically examined Results: We found that the size and shape of the optic disc, the neuroretinal rim and the par apapillary atrophy did not differ significantly between the diabetic e yes and the normal eyes. These variables were independent of the degre e of diabetic retinopathy. There was a tendency toward decreased visib ility of the retinal nerve fiber layer and increased optic disc pallor in the diabetic eyes Conclusion: The results indicate that the area a nd form of the optic disc, the neuroretinal rim and parapapillary atro phy are not altered by diabetes mellitus. This is important for the di agnosis of glaucoma in diabetic patients, since glaucoma leads to a de crease of rim area and an enlargement of parapapillary atrophy. The re duced visibility of the retinal nerve fiber layer, the increased optic disc pallor and the unchanged size of the neuroretinal rim and parapa pillary atrophy suggest that diabetes mellitus may be associated with nonglaucomatous optic nerve atrophy.