Retinal Sensitivity in Patients with Type I Diabetes without Retinopathy or with Minor Retinal Changes

• Published in: Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes Vol. 124; no. 10; p. 613
• Main Authors: Pinilla, I, Sanchez-Cano, A, Ferreras, A, Acha, J, Pérez-García, D, Ibañez-Alperte, J, Abecia, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - diagnosis; Diabetic Retinopathy - complications; Diabetic Retinopathy - diagnosis; Diabetic Retinopathy - etiology; Female; Humans; Male; Microaneurysm - complications; Microaneurysm - diagnosis; Microaneurysm - etiology; Vision Disorders - diagnosis; Vision Disorders - etiology; Visual Field Tests - methods; Visual Field Tests - standards; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1439-3646
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-111045

To evaluate the ability of short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) for the detection of visual impairment in patients with type I diabetes without retinopathy or with minor retinal vascular changes. Comparative cross-sectional study. 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects and 73 eyes of 73 patients with type I diabetes mellitus were studied. Ophthalmic examination of diabetic patients showed no retinopathy or minimal changes (less than 5 microaneurisms in each eye) with no previous laser treatment. All patients were examined by means of the SWAP 24-2 strategy. Mean Deviation (MD) and Pattern Standard Deviation (PSD) were compared between both groups. There were differences in the clusters of altered points between both groups (p=0.004). SWAP MD was lower in the diabetic group than in the controls (-2.89 dB vs. -0.20 dB, p<0.001). SWAP PSD also differed between both groups (2.50 dB in control group, 3.12 dB in the diabetic group, p=0.003). In the diabetic group, mean period from the onset of diabetes was 12.6±6.7 years and minimal vascular changes were observed in the retina of 18 eyes (24.7%), while 55 had no lesions (75.3%). No differences in SWAP changes were found between patients without and with minimal diabetic retinopathy. Retinal sensitivity assessed by SWAP is depressed in patients with type I diabetes regardless of the presence of retinal vascular changes.