Onion ring sign on spectral domain optical coherence tomography in diabetic macular edema: Its evolution and outcomes

To report evolution and outcomes of hyperreflective crystalline deposit (HCD) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in diabetic maculopathy (DM).

Patients with DM showing HCD on OCT for the first time between June 2017 and May 2021 were included in the study. Demographic, ophthalmic and OCT features were documented and analysed. Factors leading to the development of HCD and its effect on the functional outcome were analysed and described in this study.

Sixty cases of HCD were identified in 45 (males -33; females - 12) patients for the first-time during the defined study period. Mean age of the eligible patients was 61.53 ± 8.19 years. Average duration of diabetes was 13.82 ± 7.38 years. Mean visual acuity of these patients was 0.902 ± 0.438 logMAR units (Snellen equivalent = 20/160). Patients with HCD showed subretinal hard exudates, were on anti-cholesterol medications (n = 36, 80%) and showed reduced visual acuity (20/160) if the HCD involved the fovea. The median time taken for the development of HCD was 28 months. Mean follow-up duration of the study was 26.19 ± 27.98 months. Persistence of HCD in all cases (n = 42, 100%) was noted at the last follow-up visit.

Horizontal, single or multi-layered HCDs on OCT in DM represent intraretinal or subretinal cholesterol crystal precipitates evolving from the hard exudates identical to the "onion ring sign" seen in neovascular AMD. HCDs or CCs depict deranged lipid metabolism, chronic vascular leakage and can lead to substantial visual impairment if the fovea gets involved.