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Contrast sensitivity in diabetics with and without background retinopathy
Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Diabetic patients with normal vision can have reduced contrast sensitivity, especially those with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This visual function decline indicates early retinal changes missed by standard acuity tests.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Diabetology
- Visual Neuroscience
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus affects the eyes, potentially impacting vision even with normal visual acuity.
- Diabetic retinopathy is a known complication, but subclinical visual changes may occur earlier.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate contrast sensitivity in patients with diabetes mellitus (IDDM and NIDDM) and normal Snellen acuity.
- To determine if contrast sensitivity can serve as an early indicator of retinal changes in diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Contrast sensitivity was measured in 64 diabetic patients (IDDM/NIDDM) and age-matched controls.
- Measurements used stationary gratings at various spatial frequencies and phase-alternated gratings.
- Patients had normal Snellen acuity and minimal/no visible retinopathy.
Main Results:
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients without retinopathy had normal contrast sensitivity.
- Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients without retinopathy showed reduced sensitivity only at high spatial frequency (22.8 c/deg).
- NIDDM patients with background retinopathy had abnormal contrast sensitivity across all tested spatial frequencies.
Conclusions:
- Contrast sensitivity is a more sensitive measure than Snellen acuity for detecting early visual dysfunction in diabetes.
- NIDDM patients, particularly those with retinopathy, exhibit significant contrast sensitivity deficits.
- Contrast sensitivity can identify retinal changes not apparent through standard visual acuity testing.