ABSTRACT

Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent involvement of the eye in diabetes mellitus (DM) and the main cause of blindness between 20-74 years of age. In the progression of DM, important risk factors are the DM interval and glycolyzed HbA1c. The purpose of this study was to research the effects of DM duration and metabolic condition on ocular hemodynamics.

We studied 80 diabetic patients diagnosed at the endocrinology service from 30 December 2008 to 30 January 2009. Patients were studied in two groups of 40 patients: Group A, with HbA1c levels >7.5 and a history of diagnosed diabetes of >5 years, and Group B, with Hba1c levels <7.5 and a history of diagnosed diabetes of <5 years.

In our study, the orbita vessel blood flow was statistically significantly decreased in patients with Hba1c >7.5 than in patients with Hba1c <7.5. Independent of Hba1c, a highly significant decrease in the flow rates of the ophthalmic artery and central retinal artery was determined statistically when DM duration was >5 years.

According to these results, color Doppler ultrasonography is a reliable method for studying ocular hemodynamic problems in diabetic patients with poor control of the disease.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy, Hba1c, color Doppler ultrasonography