The influence of hyperglycaemia upon the colour vision of patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate whether an increase in plasma glucose level had an influence upon the colour vision of patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Methods: A total of 16 patients with NIDDM were investigated, mean age and duration of NIDDM 59.8 and 4.7 years, respectively. The colour vision was assessed every 30 minutes for 4 hours using a Desaturated D15 under three conditions: (1) meal tolerance test (n = 8); (2) stable plasma glucose conditions, i.e. fasting (n = 8); and (3) intravenous glucose tolerance test (n = 8). Results: The total error score does not vary significantly under the three test conditions. The influence of the plasma glucose upon the TES is not significant, even though levels of up to 22.7 mmol/l were recorded. Conclusion: Colour vision does not appear to be influenced by acute increases in plasma glucose concentrations, unlike the deterioration of colour vision found during hypoglycaemia.