Ocular complications in young patients with insulin dependent diabetes

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the visual functions of a group of young patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) to a control group, and identify those with retinopathy and assess the influence of metabolic control.Methods: A group of IDDMs (aged 10–21 years), were examined for two years at the UHW (n = 123). Fundus photography and ophthalmoscopy were performed under mydriasis. Visual acuity, colour vision (desaturated D15), contrast sensitivity (Vistech VCTS 6500) and metabolic control were assessed. In a subgroup (n = 7), accommodation, macular threshold, central visual fields and dark adaptation were measured.Results: IDDMs made significantly more errors with the desaturated D15 than the control group, and had higher macular thresholds and lower amplitudes of accommodation (P < 0.05). IDDMs with retinopathy had significantly poorer metabolic control (HbA1) than those without.Conclusion: Colour vision differed significantly between IDDMs and the control group. Fifty‐two IDDMs exhibited diabetic retinopathy. The need for good metabolic control is demonstrated.