SIGNS OF OCULAR DAMAGE IN PATIENTS WITH DM BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most significant medical and social problems of our time, leading to systemic complications and serious damage to the eye. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is not only a leading cause of blindness and low vision, but can also be an indicator of more severe complications. Despite the progress of diagnostic methods and treatment, the prevalence of DM complications is progressing, which is associated with an increase in the life expectancy of patients, insufficient compensation for hyperglycemia and late access to ophthalmic care. Due to the high growth of DM (more than 537 million patients with DM in the world; IDF, 2023), early detection and monitoring of ophthalmic complications is of particular importance. Current imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), make it possible to detect preclinical changes in the retina even before complaints appear in the patient. However, the problem of insufficient preventive diagnosis remains in clinical practice, especially in regions with limited access to high-tech ophthalmic care. The study aims to fill these gaps and may help optimize screening algorithms and dynamic follow-up of patients with DM to prevent irreversible visual impairment.