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Published on: July 1, 2016
Visual evoked responses in diabetes
K S Millingen1, P T Yeo, S Kamaldeen
1Department of Medicine, University of Tasmania.
Clinical and Experimental Neurology
|January 1, 1987
Summary
This study found that pattern reversal visual evoked responses (VERs) are rarely prolonged in diabetes patients. Prolonged VERs were mostly linked to other conditions, not solely diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding visual evoked responses (VERs) prolongation in diabetic patients.
- Diabetic complications can affect the visual system, but the extent of optic nerve involvement is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pattern reversal VERs in diabetic inpatients.
- To clarify the relationship between diabetes, visual pathway function, and VER abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Sixty diabetic inpatients underwent pattern reversal VER testing.
- Data analysis focused on latency and amplitude of VERs.
Main Results:
- Only one patient showed unequivocally delayed VERs without other explanations.
- Two patients had prolonged VERs associated with proliferative retinopathy, potentially due to maculo-papillary fiber involvement.
- The study did not strongly support widespread optic neuropathy or central encephalopathy in diabetes via VERs.
Conclusions:
- Pattern reversal VERs are generally not prolonged in diabetes.
- Overt visual pathway dysfunction in diabetes, detectable by VERs, is uncommon.
- Further research may be needed to explore subtle visual system changes in diabetes.
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