AIM: To investigate the correlation between elipsode zone(EZ)integrity and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of eyes with diabetic macular edema(DME), and to determine the prognostic factors of visual acuity.

METHODS: We studied 62 eyes of 39 patients with DME. Using spectral domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), disrupted elipsode zone length were measured, and the eyes were categorized into three groups according to elipsode zone: 1)Group A: with a completely visible elipsode zone; 2)Group B: with a disrupted elipsode zone and the length of disruption within 200μm;(3)Group C: with a disrupted elipsode zone and the length of disruption longer than 200μm. We also evaluated the presence or absence of hard exudates(HE), serous retinal detachment(SRD), central macular thickness(CMT)using SD-OCT. Pearson analysis testing was performed over the BCVA and the elipsode zone integrity, CMT, existence of SRD and HE, age, sex, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, duration of DME, stage of diabetic retinopathy, and DME type.

RESULTS: Before treatment, BCVA(LogMAR)in the Group A(0.44±0.18)or Group B(0.64±0.16)was significantly better than that in the Group C(0.74±0.21)(P<0.001). CMT had no difference between Group A(403.40±90.32μm), Group B(408.44±95.98μm)or Group C(421.29± 98.32μm, P=0.805). Analysis showed that elipsode zone integrity had close correlation coefficient with BCVA(r=-0.673, P<0.001), CMT had weak correlation with BCVA(r=-0.344, P<0.001). Other factors SRD, HE and duration of DME did not correlate with BCVA.

CONCLUSION: The integrity of elipsode zone are closely associated with BCVA in DME. CMT are weakly associated with BCVA in DME.