AIM: To compare the outer nuclear layer(ONL), inner and outer segments(IS/OS), photoreceptor cell layer in healthy people and diabetic retinopathy by frequency-domain optical coherence tomography(OCT).

METHODS: Totally 100 eyes of 50 healthy people were selected as control group. According to conventional mydriasis for examination of fundus and fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)examination, all diabetic cases were divided into 3 groups: normal retina group(NDR), non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy group(NPDR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy group(PDR). Using OCT measure the thickness of ONL, IS/OS and photoreceptor cell layer of fovea and parafovea(nasal side and temporal side)in the four groups.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the ONL and photoreceptor cell layer's thickness of macular fovea and temporal parafovea in NPDR group and PDR group were statistically significant(all P<0.05). The differences between ONL and photoreceptor cell layer's thickness of macular fovea and temporal parafovea in NDR group and PDR group were not statistically significant(P>0.05). The IS/OS of macular fovea and temporal parafovea was not significantly different among those groups(P>0.05). The thickness of different layers of nasal parafovea were not different(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The thickness of macular fovea and temporal parafovea has relation with degree of DR; the change of photoreceptor cell layer's thickness occurs mainly in ONL, but IS/OS no change; the change in temporal parafovea more obvious than in nasal parafovea. Frequency-domain OCT can quantitatively and qualitatively observe the subtle diabetic macular changes in diabetic patients with macular disease, and provides a reliable detection for the early diagnosis and treatment.