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Purpose: Firstly, to compare the choroidal thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) between diabetic macular edema (DME) patients who received intravitreal bevacizumab, ranibizumab and dexamethasone implant injection and a age-matched healthy group. Secondly, to investigate the relationship between diabetic choroidopathy and diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, HbA1c levels and metabolic conditions in these patients undergoing intravitreal injection therapy. Materials and Methods: Total 72 (52 males, 20 females) DME patients and 60 (44 males, 16 females) healthy control participants were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional, and comparative study. Results: The baseline choroidal thickness (ChT) in patients with DME was thinner than in the control group. When the relationship between changes in central macular thickness and mean macular thickness values and age, gender, disease duration, mean arterial pressure, body mass index (BMI), LDL level, and HbA1c values were examined, no significant relationship was observed (p>0.05 for all). There was a significant inverse correlation between BMI and initial average ChT (p:0.027). There was also a positive correlation between LDL levels and choroidal thickness (0.007). In the comparison between ChTs according to the presence of microalbuminuria, last subfoveal ChT was observed to be thinner in presence of microalbuminuria (p: 0.038). In the comparison between ChTs of patients with and without neuropathy, the average last nasal ChT was higher in patients with diabetic neuropathy (p: 0.025). There was no significant relationship between HbA1c levels and choroid thicknesses. Conclusions: The choroidal thinning in this study may be a sign of diabetic choroidopathy-induced choroid ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate changes in macular thickness, ganglion cell inner plexiform and choroid layer of long term Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients by optical coherence tomography (OCT) who treated with antiretroviral therapy. Matherials and Methods: The study included 50 HIV cases receiving antiretroviral therapy and 50 control groups. Best corrected visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examinations were performed in both groups. Macula, optic disc and choroid layer measurements were performed with OCT device. Results: The number of males / females in the HIV group is 37/13 and the average age is 42.7 ± 8.3 years, the number of males / females in the control group is 35/15 and the average age is 42.8 ± 8.1 years. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of age and gender in both groups(P = 0.96, P = 0.76 respectively). Avarage choroidal thickness is 267.5 ± 33.1μ in HIV group and 283.3 ± 24.8 μ in control group.(P=0.008) Average macular thickness is 299.8 ± 12.1 μ in HIV group and 316.1 ± 14.4 μ in control group.(P = 0.001) Retinal nerve fiber thickness is 102.9 ± 10.1 μ in the HIV group and 106.2 ±13.7 μ in the control group.(P = 0.173) Conclusion: HIV patients who received treatment developed thinning in inner retinal layers and choroid layer over time compared to healthy individuals. It suggests that viral particles have degenerative effects on retinal cells by triggering autoimmune reactions. This situation has negative trophic effect on other layers and causes thinning in the macula and choroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]