AIM:To study the correlation between and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness,structure changes in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)and the the changes of visual function

METHODS:Eighty cases(80 eyes)of patients with NPDR who were in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 as group NPDR, 60 cases of patients(60 eyes)without retinopathy who were in the hospital were selected as non-diabetic retinopathy group(NRD)group, meanwhile, 50 healthy people who had health examination in our hospital as control group. The RNFL thickness and visual electrophysiological testing were performed on the study objects in the three groups, and the results were compared among groups.

RESULTS: Group NPDR's above, below, nasal, temporal and average RNFL thickness were 91.52±18.52, 88.63±21.65, 63.62±11.72, 60.42±9.13, 69.36±12.52μm,those of group NPDR were 111.32±21.90, 113.57±22.67, 74.31±11.74, 67.64±12.34, and 97.31±11.43μm,those of group control were 121.65±21.42, 129.32±23.31, 82.42±9.28, 80.32±8.51, 102.54±21.82μm. To compare of average thickness of RNFL of three groups, groups NPDR and NPD were thinner than that of control group; To compare each quadrant phase, above, below, nasal, the RNFL thickness among three groups had statistical significance(P<0.05), while nasal sides had no obviously changes(P>0.05); At the same time, 60'P100 latency(MS), 60'P100 amplitude(V), 15'P100 latency(MS)and 15'P100 amplitude(V)of three groups had statistical significance(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The changes of RNFL thickness have occurred in the early time of NPDR, and mainly the above, below and temporal, and it has a significant relevance with the changes of visual function.