Background: Recent advancements in imaging technologies, particularly structural optical coherence tomography (OCT), have improved the understanding of diabetic macular edema (DME) pathophysiology and provided valuable biomarkers for disease progression and visual outcomes. This prospective study aimed to investigate the association between specific retinal biomarkers identified through OCT imaging and reading performance metrics in patients with previously treated persistent versus resolved DME and good visual acuity.
Methods: Forty-nine eyes from 35 patients with a history of DME were enrolled. Reading performance was assessed using the Radner reading charts, which include standardized sentences with geometrically progressing print sizes. Structural alterations in the inner and outer retina, as well as the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), were graded based on OCT images.
Results: Reading performance, measured as maximum reading speed, was associated with specific retinal biomarkers. The disruption of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) in the parafoveal region and the presence of disorganization of the inner retinal layers (DRIL) in the parafovea were correlated with reduced reading speed. These associations were independent of the presence of intraretinal or subretinal fluid.
Conclusions: Understanding the relationship between retinal biomarkers and reading performance could contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of visual function and quality of life in patients with DME, leading to better management strategies and treatment outcomes.
Keywords: DME; DRIL; EZ; Radner; reading performance; retinal biomarkers.