Evaluation of diabetic maculopathy using amsler's grid, colour vision and fluorescein angiography

Abstract

Introduction:

Diabetic maculopathy, a complication of diabetes, is a leading cause of acquired blindness in diabetic patients. It is characterized by retinal thickening and fluid accumulation in the macula, leading to vision impairment. Early detection of macular changes is essential in preventing irreversible vision loss. Various diagnostic tools, including Amsler's grid, color vision testing, and fluorescein angiography (FFA), are used for detection.

Objective:   

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive diagnostic tools, such as Amsler's grid and colour vision tests, in detecting diabetic maculopathy, and compare their diagnostic performance to FFA.

Methods:

This prospective study was conducted from October 2002 to September 2003 at M.S. Ramaiah Medical Teaching Hospital. It included 60 diabetic patients over the age of 40 attending routine diabetic eye check-ups. The study excluded patients with color vision deficiencies, corneal opacity, macular diseases, or post-laser-treated eyes. The evaluation included Amsler's grid, color vision tests, and FFA for detecting maculopathy.

Results: 

The study revealed that 96.7% of the eyes exhibited abnormal color vision, with diffuse maculopathy being the predominant form, occurring in 97.3% of cases. Amsler’s grid effectively identified macular abnormalities in 90.9% of focal maculopathy cases and 97.3% of diffuse maculopathy cases. These findings were further validated by FFA, which showed leakage in 58 eyes, representing 96.7% of the cases.

Conclusion:

Non-invasive tools such as Amsler’s grid and color vision tests proved effective in detecting early macular changes in diabetic patients. While FFA remains the gold standard, these simple diagnostic tools provide a practical alternative for early detection in settings with limited resources, allowing for timely intervention.