Changes in Frequency-Doubling Perimetry in Patients with Type I Diabetes prior to Retinopathy

Isabel Pinilla,Laura X Herrera,Antonio Ferreras,Miriam Idoipe,Diana Perez-Garcia,Maria J Pinilla,Ana I Sanchez-Cano,Emilio Abecia

doi:10.1155/2013/341269

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate the ability of frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in detecting visual field defects in young adults with type I diabetes prior to retinopathy or with minor retinovascular changes. Methods. This comparative cross-sectional study included 30 healthy subjects and 73 age-matched patients with type I diabetes mellitus. All subjects underwent a full ocular examination including an FDT with the threshold C-20-5 strategy. Only one eye per subject was randomly included in the statistical analysis. FDT results and time to perform the test were compared between the groups. Results. The mean age was 27.1 years in the control group and 26.6 years in the diabetic group (P = 0.875). The mean period from the onset of diabetes was 12.6 ± 6.7 years, while minimal retinovascular changes were observed in 18 eyes. Mean deviation of FDT did not differ between the groups. Although global indices of FDT were within normal limits, pattern standard deviation of FDT was higher in the diabetic group (P = 0.035). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.647 for pattern standard deviation of FDT (standard error = 0.052; P = 0.017). Conclusion. FDT can detect retinal dysfunctions in diabetic patients prior to the onset of significant vascular complications.

Highlights

Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of visual loss in the diabetic population, it is not the only aspect of visual dysfunction in these patients
Diabetic patients were recruited from those referred for annual diabetic retinopathy screening
We examined whether the age of diabetes onset was related to the frequency-doubling technology (FDT) findings

Summary

Introduction

Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of visual loss in the diabetic population, it is not the only aspect of visual dysfunction in these patients. Functional defects have been reported in animal models of diabetic retinopathy prior to the occurrence of any clinically visible changes [1, 2]. Such defects are attributed to a decrease in nerve function and consist of alterations in oscillatory potentials, pattern electroretinogram (ERG), multifocal ERG, S-cone ERG, and paired-flash ERG [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Abnormal colour sensation [14], prolongations in visually evoked response latencies [15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22], and defects in the retinal nerve fiber layer [23] have been detected at stages preceding detectable retinopathy

Methods

Results

Conclusion