A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study of Retinal Findings in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

The mean age of diabetic CKD patients was significantly higher (63.52 ± 14.43 years) than that of non-diabetic CKD patients (49.26 ± 15.22 years; p < 0.001). Diabetic CKD patients also had higher serum creatinine levels (4.33 ± 1.76 vs. 3.35 ± 1.56 mg/dL; p = 0.0008) and lower eGFR (18.95 ± 3.47 vs. 22.31 ± 2.78 mL/min/1.73 m²; p < 0.001). Retinal thickness across all quadrants was significantly reduced in diabetic CKD patients (e.g., subfoveal thickness: 220.11 ± 39.67 μm in the right eye vs. 265.50 ± 28.34 μm; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the substantial impact of diabetes on retinal health in CKD patients. Individuals with diabetic CKD exhibited significantly more severe retinal microvascular and structural abnormalities, such as marked macular thinning, advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy, and a higher incidence of dialysis, and associated retinal changes, compared to their non-diabetic counterparts.