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Controlled blood sugar improves the eye's accommodative ability in type-1 diabetes
Samuel Abokyi1,2, Patience Ansomah Ayerakwah3, Sampson Listowell Abu4
1Department of Optometry and Vision Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. sabokyi@ucc.edu.gh.
Eye (London, England)
|July 4, 2020
Summary
Controlling high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in type-1 diabetes patients improves their ability to focus (accommodation). Better glucose control leads to enhanced amplitude of accommodation and reduced lag of accommodation, positively impacting vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Endocrinology
- Diabetic Retinopathy Research
- Ocular Physiology
Background:
- Type-1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic condition requiring careful management of blood glucose levels.
- Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) can lead to various microvascular complications, including those affecting the eyes.
- Pre-presbyopic individuals with T1D may experience subtle changes in visual function due to glycemic fluctuations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels and key ocular measures in pre-presbyopic individuals with T1D.
- To assess the impact of glycemic control on refractive error (RE), amplitude of accommodation (AoA), and lag of accommodation (LoA).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 30 insulin-treated T1D patients (age 14-39) underwent ocular assessments at baseline and 3 months.
- Fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were recorded, and patients were grouped based on FBS thresholds (≤7 vs. >7 mmol/L).
- Ocular measures, including AoA and LoA, were measured with appropriate spectacle correction; statistical analyses included Welch's t-test and paired t-tests.
Main Results:
- Patients with normal FBS (≤7 mmol/L) exhibited significantly more myopic refractive error, greater AoA, and lower LoA compared to those with higher FBS (>7 mmol/L) at baseline.
- At follow-up, patients who achieved reduced FBS showed significant improvement in AoA and a reduction in LoA.
- Conversely, patients with worsening glycemic control displayed an opposite trend in ocular accommodation measures.
Conclusions:
- Effective control of hyperglycemia in type-1 diabetes patients leads to demonstrable improvements in ocular accommodation.
- Maintaining optimal blood sugar levels is crucial for preserving visual function and potentially mitigating diabetic eye complications.
- This study highlights the direct impact of glycemic control on the accommodative system in young adults with T1D.
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