AIM: To evaluate macular thickness and macular volume changes in people with diabetes mellitus but no significant decrease of visual acuity.

METHODS: A total of 87 eyes were collected in diabetic group. According to the international stage of diabetic retinopathy, these cases were divided into two subgroups: DR0 stage 54 eyes and DR1 stage 33 eyes. All the cases were received optical coherence tomography(OCT)scan in macular area; the scanning model is 512×128; recording macular average thickness and macular volume, and compared with healthy subjects.

RESULTS: Macular average thickness and macular volume were higher in DR1 group than those in DR0 stage and control group, and differences were having statistical significance. But DR0 group and control group differences of the two indexes were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: With the aggravation of diabetic retinopathy, the macular thickness tends to be thicken. Although without obvious visual loss, there have been slight morphological changes. Using OCT scan can find fundus changes earlier in patients with diabetes mellitus, and provide clinical basis for both early diagnosis and treatment.