Can optical coherence tomography predict early retinal microvascular pathology in type 1 diabetic adolescents without minimal diabetic retinopathy? A single-centre study

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been proven useful in measuring retinal thickness and volumes in patients with diabetes. Objective: To test whether OCT is able to identify early retinal changes and its potential correlations with metabolic parameters and other microvascular complications. Patients and methods: Thirty patients with type 1 diabetes without minimal diabetic retinopathy (MDR) (17 males, 13 females, aged 14.3±2.4 years) compared with age-matched healthy volunteers were examined with OCT. Diabetes duration, anthropometric measurements, HbA1c, other microvascular complications (nephropathy, autonomic and peripheral neuropathy) and total serum cholesterol were determined.