Menstrual cycle-dependent changes in white-on-white visual field analysis of diabetic women

To determine the effect of the menstrual cycle on white-on-white perimetry (WWP) tests of diabetic women.

Left eyes of 129 normally menstruating women (81 type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) with mild (n = 43) and severe (n = 38) non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and 48 healthy control females) were included in the study. All subjects underwent complete ocular examination and WWP tests both in the follicular (7-10th day of the cycle) and luteal phases (days 3-7 before the bleeding) of two consecutive menstrual cycles. WWP was performed using Humphrey Field Analyzer II with SITA Standard, central 30-2 program. Mean sensitivity (MS) of points located at central 3, 9, 15, 21 and 27 degrees retinal locations (4, 12, 18, 24 and 16 points, respectively) were calculated in all menstrual phases.

The mean age of diabetic patients with mild and severe NPDR and control subjects were 28.8 +/- 4.7, 30.1 +/- 5.9 and 29.4 +/- 5.1 years, respectively (p > 0.05). Their mean MS values were 30.7 +/- 1.0, 30.4 +/- 1.0 and 30.8 +/- 0.8 dB, respectively (p > 0.05). Diabetic patients with severe NPDR demonstrated significant decreases in mean MS values of peripheral 21 and 27 degrees visual field locations in the luteal phase (p < 0.05). However, changes in that of the locations within central 15 degrees visual field were non-significant (p > 0.05). Diabetic patients with mild NPDR and control subjects demonstrated no significant changes in mean MS values of any of the visual field locations (p > 0.05).

Peripheral, rather than central, locations of central visual field of diabetic women with severe NPDR demonstrated a significant retinal sensitivity loss in the luteal phase. These findings should be taken into consideration during the clinical follow-up of diabetic women at risk of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.