CORRELATION BETWEEN GLYCOSYLATED HAEMOGLOBIN (HBA1C) LEVEL AND MACULAR THICKNESS IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL.

Aim : To correlate HbA1c level with macular thickness in type 2 diabetic patients to determine the impact of blood sugar control on retina. Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted in GMERS Medical College and Civil Hospital, Gandhinagar in which 240 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus were included who presented at Department of Ophthalmology. Result : Out of 240 patients, 209 patients had high HbA1c level (>6.5 %) while 31 patients had normal HbA1c level (<6.5 %). From 209 patients with HbA1c level more than 6.5 %, 111 patients had diabetic retinopathy while 98 patients didn't have diabetic retinopathy. Out of those 111 patients, 89 patients had macular oedema (macular thickness >280 microns) while 22 patients didn't have macular oedema. Out of these 89 patients, 57 patients (64.05 %) had bilateral macular oedema while 32 patients (35.95 %) had unilateral macular oedema. Conclusion: In this study, average macular thickness in diabetic patients with HbA1c level > 6.5 % was 284.55 microns. So, there was signicant correlation (p value = <0.001) between HbA1c level of diabetic patient and average macular thickness. So, as the HbA1c level of diabetic patient increases, macular thickness also increases and hence the probability of developing macular oedema increases. In this study, there was signicant correlation (p value = 0.011) between duration of diabetes and average macular thickness. So, as the duration of diabetes increases macular thickness also increases which predisposes to macular oedema.