AIM: To analyze the characteristics of optical coherence tomography(OCT)in diabetic optic neuropathy(DON)retrospectively.

METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 175 cases of type II diabetes with fundus lesions from Dec. 2013 to Dec. 2015 were selected and the clinical information was collected. These cases were diagnosed by consultation between Departments of Ophthalmology and Endocrinology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University. The results of body examination were recorded and cases were examined by color fundus photography, fluorescein fundus angiography(FFA)and OCT. All these data were analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 49 cases(90 eyes, 25.7%)were diagnosed DON through FFA which manifested abnormal fluorescence in optic papilla. Results of OCT showed: among 90 eyes of DON patients, 15 eyes(16.7%)had normal optic nerve form; 20 eyes(22.2%)of excavation of optic disc became smaller or disappeared, with prelaminar tissue and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)swelling; 26 eyes(28.9%)manifested optic cup deep and cup/disc ratio increasing; 18 eyes(20.0%)had tissue hyperplasia in the hollow or on the surface of optic disc; 11 eyes(12.3%)had symptoms including vitreous traction optic papilla and optic disc rim rising. DON eyes which had similar fluorescence features could manifest different tissue morph by OCT.

CONCLUSION: FFA defines DON by change of blood circulation in optic nerve. However, OCT can show differences of tissue morph of optic nerve that FFA fails to do. So OCT can manifest the causes and sites of optic neuropathy more clearly and also provide basis for treatment. The advantages of OCT are conducive to reviews and curative effect tracking among DON patients and these advantages including noninvasive, convenient, inexpensive and repeatable.