Evaluation of Foveal Avascular Zone in Diabetic Hypertensive Patients Versus Diabetics Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angioghraphy

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is considered a major cause of vision loss. While fundus fluorescence angiography (FFA) has been widely used for diagnosis, it is invasive. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is considered a non-invasive alternative that visualizes retinal vessels as well as the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), allowing DR early detection and monitoring.Objectives: The aim of this work was to analyze FAZ in Eyes with DR with essential hypertension compared to DR patients without hypertension using OCTA.Methods: This cross–sectional cohort study was done on 50 patients with diabetic patients (type 1 diabetes and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy for more than 5 years and essential hypertension for more than 5 years. Patients were categorized equally into two groups: Group A: with DR and essential hypertension, and Group B: with DR without hypertension.Results: There was no correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and (FAZ and deep vessel density) and between diabetes mellitus (DM) duration and (FAZ and deep vessel density), while there was a positive correlation between BCVA as well as superficial vessel density (P value = 0.021) and between duration of DM and superficial vessel density (P value = 0.005). A negative connection existed between the duration of diabetes mellitus and deep vessel density (P value