Assessment of Retinal Microvascular Changes by OCT Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of visual impairment worldwide. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides detailed visualization of the retinal microvasculature without the need for dye injection.

This observational cross-sectional study will be conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University. Adult patients diagnosed with different stages of diabetic retinopathy will undergo comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity assessment, fundus examination, OCT, and OCT angiography.

Retinal microvascular parameters, including vessel density in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), will be measured. HbA1c values will be recorded to assess glycemic control.

The primary objective is to evaluate retinal microvascular changes detected by OCTA and determine their correlation with visual acuity and glycemic control across different stages of diabetic retinopathy.

Inclusion criteria

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Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 18 to 80 years.
• Patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy.
• Ability to undergo complete ophthalmic examination including OCT and OCT angiography.
• Availability of HbA1c measurement within the study period.
• Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous vitreoretinal surgery.
• Significant media opacity affecting image quality (e.g., dense cataract or vitreous hemorrhage).
• Other retinal vascular diseases (e.g., retinal vein occlusion).
• Glaucoma or optic nerve diseases affecting visual function.
• High myopia (>6 diopters).
• Poor-quality OCTA images due to motion artifacts or poor fixation.
• Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

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