[Study of the crystalline lens by fluorophotometry in 60 control subjects and 56 diabetics]

Lens autofluorescence was measured with a commercially available computer fluorophotometer: Fluorotron Master, in 56 diabetic patients (34 insulin-dependent and 22 non insulin-dependent) mean age +/- S.E.M. = 45.65 +/- 3.92 years; and in 60 control patients, mean age +/- 44.82 +/- 4.70 years. Scanning measurement of fluorescence was performed along the optical axis of the two eyes. Lens fluorescence refers to the highest fluorescence intensity found in the anterior part of the lens nucleus: anterior lens peak. For both populations, lens autofluorescence increased linearly with age (p less than 0.001) and was significantly higher in the diabetic population at all ages. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation with the duration of diabetes for insulin-dependent (p less than 0.001) but not for non insulin-dependent diabetic subjects, and not on metabolic control: mean Hb A1C levels over last five years. These results showed that fluorophotometry was an objective and reproducible method for in vivo human lens study.