Ring Amplitude and its effects on Diabetic eyes - A Multifocal electro retinography study

New research published in the journal "Seminars in Ophthalmology,2022" found that diabetes affects the central rings more than the peripheral rings and the effects are unevenly distributed on the retinal topography. 

Diabetic Retinopathy is an ocular complication of diabetes, a metabolic disorder affecting a huge population worldwide. If left untreated this disease can reduce vision leading to blindness. Researchers from Turkey conducted a study to evaluate the ring amplitudes in diabetic patients, the effect of the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy on the ring amplitudes, and the success of ring amplitudes in classifying diabetic retinopathy. 

The study included 32 eyes of 32 diabetic patients without retinopathy (DM), 34 eyes of 34 patients with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) without macular edema, and 62 eyes of 62 age- and sex-matched controls (CG). Evaluation of all the patients was done using Multifocal Electroretinography (mfERG). Parameters like the relationship between age, diabetes duration, HbA1c and ring amplitudes, and the effect of diabetes and hypertension on ring amplitudes were evaluated. The discrimination power of the ring amplitudes was evaluated by a three-way ROC analysis. 

Results: 

• In the comparison of the ring amplitudes, the amplitudes of the DM and NPDR groups were statistically significantly decreased compared to the CG (p < .05).
• A moderate to strong correlation was found between the duration of diabetes, HbA1c, and ring amplitudes (p < .05).
• The effect of diabetes decreased towards the peripheral rings and hypertension did not affect ring amplitudes. 

Thus, the researchers concluded that in multifocal ERG it was found that Diabetes affects the central rings more than peripheral rings and the effects of diabetes are unevenly distributed on the retinal topographically. They further added that the effective ways to identify early changes in retinal function are the ring densities and ring ratios. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1080/08820538.2022.2100714 

Sener H, Gulmez Sevim D, Erkilic K, Oner A, Gunay Sener AB. Evaluation of Ring Amplitude and Factors Affecting Ring Amplitude in Multifocal Electroretinography in Diabetic Eyes [published online ahead of print, 2022 Jul 14]. Semin Ophthalmol. 2022;1-7.