Contrast and glare sensitivity in diabetic patients with and without pan-retinal photocoagulation

Patients with diabetes mellitus often have ophthalmic dysfunction, as diabetic eye disease can affect the majority of the ocular structures. The present study investigated contrast sensitivity (experiment 1) and glare sensitivity (experiment 2) using Pelli-Robson and Bailey-Lovie charts in normal and diabetic patients with a range of degrees of ischaemic retinopathy (n = 220). Contrast sensitivity thresholds reduced and glare sensitivity progressively increased throughout the range from normal to advanced stages of diabetic eye disease. However, the reduction in contrast sensitivity between adjacent groups was not significant (P > 0.10). Conversely, glare sensitivity was found to be greater in those diabetic patients who had received laser treatment (P = 0.001). The potential use of both tests is discussed.