Lens-corrected visual field sensitivity and diabetes.

Purpose

To examine whether peripheral S-cone system and achromatic sensitivity was reduced in patients with diabetes compared to normal controls.

Methods

Perimetric measurements were obtained to study peripheral S-cone system and achromatic sensitivity in patients with diabetes and normal controls. Measures of individual lens absorption of short-wavelength light were used to correct visual field sensitivity values for attenuation of test light due to lens absorption.

Results

Both before and after correction for lens absorption of test spot light, peripheral field-averaged S-cone system and achromatic sensitivities were not significantly reduced among patients with diabetes compared to normals of the same age. However, localized sensitivity losses in the visual field were found in most patients with diabetes both before and after lens absorption correction, compared to age norms. The amount of localized loss (number of field locations with reduced sensitivity) was significantly correlated with the level of retinopathy. Statistical analysis showed that after the effects of age and duration were removed, field-averaged S-cone system sensitivity in patients with diabetes was also significantly reduced as a function of increasing severity of retinopathy.

Conclusions

Patients with diabetes may have areas of reduced S-cone system sensitivity with development of diabetic retinopathy.