Changes in the lamina cribrosa in patient groups differing in severity of diabetic polyneuropathy

Background: To our knowledge, no clinical study has previously been performed to investigate morphometric changes in the lamina cribrosa in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients differing in severity of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). Purpose: To identify changes in the lamina cribrosa in patients with DPN differing in severity of the disease. Materials and Methods: A total of 575 patients (1150 eyes) with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in the prospective analysis of changes in the lamina cribrosa. DPN was diagnosed in 210 (36.5%) patients with DM. In addition to routine eye examination, retinal and optic nerve OCT was performed. Thickness of the cribriform plate and scleral canal area were measured. Results: A relationship was found between the state of the lamina cribrosa and the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. The mean thicknesses of the lamina cribrosa in DM patients without evidence of DPN, and those with N1A, N1B, N2A, N2B, and N3 stages DPN, were 1.5-fold, 1.9-fold, 2.0-fold, 2.7-fold, 2.8-fold, and 3.0-fold higher than in controls (303 ± 56 μm) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: We found that, in patients with DM, lamina cribrosa thickness increased with increase in severity of DPN.