Modern methods of wide-angle visualization of retinal periphery in diabetic retinopathy

Relevance Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus, leading to a significant decrease in vision [1]. Traditional methods of photoregistration are limited in assessing the peripheral zones of the retina, which reduces the effectiveness of early detection of changes that affect the prognosis of the disease [2, 3]. Objective To evaluate modern wide-angle methods of visualizing the periphery of the retina, their diagnostic value and potential for predicting the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Material and methods A literature review and comparative analysis of diagnostic methods were conducted, including standard photoregistration, optical coherence tomography and OCT angiography using wide-angle systems that can cover up to 200° of the visual field. Results and Conclusions Wide-angle visualization systems allow identifying peripheral changes in the retina that are inaccessible to traditional methods, which improves the assessment of the severity of ischemia and neovascularization [4]. These methods demonstrate high accuracy in detecting pathological areas, however technical limitations (image distortion, artifacts) require further standardization [5]. The detected peripheral changes correlate with the severity of the disease, which confirms their potential as a prognostic biomarker. Keywords: diabetic retinopathy; wide-angle imaging; OCT; OCTA; biomarkers