[Analysis of diabetic optic neuropathy with a topographic laser scanning system]

Optic disc topography was done with a 3-dimensional scanning laser ophthalmoscope in 53 eyes of 53 diabetic patients and compared with that of 34 control eyes. In diabetic eyes, the parameters for contour variation of the optic nerve head was significantly greater than in control eyes. The cup of the disc, on the other hand, did not increase or decrease in diabetic eyes. The area of the neuroretinal rim area, and the tissue volume of the neuroretinal rim area was increased in eyes with pre-proliferative retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy, respectively. The cup of the disc was not enlarged in diabetic eyes in spite of discrete signs of retinal nerve fiber layer defects. Topographic features of eyes with diabetic optic neuropathy were very different from those with glaucomatous optic neuropathy in spite of the similar appearance of retinal nerve fiber layer defects.