Impact of Diabetic Retinopathy on Ocular Surface Temperature: Insights from Medical Thermography

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of diabetic retinopathy on the ocular surface temperature (OST) profile, exploring potential links between temperature variations and the inflammatory processes associated with the condition.Material and Methods: Medical thermography, a non-invasive technique that captures thermal radiation emitted from body organs, was employed to measure OST and lacrimal sac temperature in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) compared to healthy controls. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess temperature differences between the 2 groups.Results: The analysis revealed a significant difference in OST and lacrimal sac temperature between eyes affected by DR and healthy eyes, with a p-value of 0.006. This finding indicates notable temperature deviations in the presence of diabetic retinopathy.Conclusion: The observed temperature variations support the hypothesis that inflammation may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy, highlighting the potential of thermography as a valuable diagnostic tool in understanding ocular surface changes in this condition.