Background: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness loss may contribute to diabetic optic nerve dysfunction if it is not detected early enough.
Objectives: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness to HbA1c in patients with diabetic retinopathy.
Subjects and methods: There were 60 eyes with a Diabetic Retinopathy clinical diagnosis in this cross-sectional trial. Two groups of patients were formed: 30 eyes with diabetic retinopathy in Group A (HbA1c 7%) were included in this study. In the second group B, there were 30 eyes of diabetic retinopathy with uncontrolled glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c >7%).
Results: As regard relation between DM duration and eye outcome; it showed highly statistically significant differences between groups according to Auto refractometer (P<0.001), there was no significant association with other eye outcome parameters. As regard correlation between HbA1C and eye outcome and it show highly statistically negative correlation between HbA1C and each of un-corrected visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity.
Conclusion: Even before retinal vascular abnormalities and vision impairment were observed in the majority of the individuals investigated, diabetes had a significant impact on neuronal retinal layer structure. There was a statistically significant link between RNFL quadrant thinning and HbA1c levels above 7% and uncontrolled glucose levels.