[Eye changes in diabetes mellitus]

In ophthalmological examinations on 820 diabetics in 32% a diabetic retinopathy I or II was found. The frequency of retinopathy correlates with the duration of diabetes. A glaucoma (4.8%) or an increased intra-ocular pressure, respectively, was statistically significantly more frequent in diabetics than in the total population. Among 714 patients with glaucoma about 17% of diabetics were found. Compared with the morbidity of diabetes of adequate age groups of the total population this is statistically significant. The intraocular pressure of patients with glaucoma and diabetes is therapeutically worse to be influenced than in patients with glaucoma without diabetes. They need a particularly attentive control and therapy. By means of electon-microscope examinations as a possible cause for the association of glaucoma and diabetes mellitus similar changes in the iridocorneal angle could be found in the two diseases.