Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:43-46 ( January )
Preretinopic changes in the colour vision of juvenile diabetics
Anne Kurtenbach,a
Ulrich Schiefer,a
Andreas Neu,b
Eberhart Zrennera
a University Eye
Hospital, Department of Pathology of Vision and
Neuro-ophthalmology, Tübingen, Germany, b University
Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
Correspondence to: Anne Kurtenbach, University Eye Hospital, Department of Pathology of
Vision and Neuroophthalmology, Schleichstrasse 12-16, 72076 Tübingen,
Germany.
Accepted for publication 31 July 1998
AIMS
To examine the
colour vision of juvenile patients suffering from diabetes mellitus
without retinopathy in relation to metabolic and ophthalmic state.
METHODSMetameric
matches, both Rayleigh (red/green) and Moreland (blue/green) were used
to test the colour vision yearly of 10 juvenile patients. The patients
were monitored over 4 years, and during the final year, their blood
glucose level was determined directly after testing colour vision. An
ophthalmic examination was performed on the day of colour vision
testing and blood and urine were analysed regularly throughout the 4 years. Their results are compared with an aged matched control group of
20 subjects, seven of whom were retested after 9-16 months.
RESULTSAfter 4 years,
the colour vision results show an enlarged matching range for the
Moreland match, as well as a smaller increase in the matching range for
the Rayleigh match. No significant correlation was found between blood
glucose at the time of testing and any of the variables measured.
CONCLUSIONThe pattern
of colour vision deficits in metameric matching shown by juvenile
diabetics is consistent with post-receptoral alterations of the inner
retina, at this preretinopic stage of disease. Duration of diabetes is
correlated with both colour vision changes and morphological alteration
of the retina.
Keywords:
anomaloscope;
blood glucose;
colour vision;
diabetes
© 1999 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
