Purpose: To investigate whether the serous macular detachment (SMD) shown by optical coherence tomography is associated with types of maculopathy, severity of retinopathy, the effect of macular and retinal photocoagulation, and retinal circulation times in diabetic macular edema.
Methods: Patients were grouped as SMD+ (Group 1) and SMD- (Group 2). Fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were evaluated regarding the type of maculopathy; severity of retinopathy and also arm-retina time, arteriovenous transit time, and venous filling time; and the applied macular and panretinal laser treatment.
Results: Diffuse maculopathy was seen more frequently in eyes with SMD, whereas ischemic maculopathy was more frequent in eyes without SMD. There was no significant difference regarding severity of retinopathy and retinal circulation times between groups. The frequency of patients with complete panretinal photocoagulation and grid laser photocoagulation was found to be higher in Group 2.
Conclusion: Serous macular detachment can occur in eyes with increased vascular permeability in macula. Serous macular detachment may be an important finding in terms of the possible existence of diffuse maculopathy and the need of additional panretinal photocoagulation, but absence of SMD may point at ischemic maculopathy.