title: Impairment of corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetics.
abstract: Corneal epithelial permeability was determined using an automatic fluorophotometer in 80 consecutive diabetic patients. The corneal epithelium, which is the most important part of the corneal diffusion barrier, showed a significant increase of permeability to watery, ionic substances (natrium fluorescein). The permeability was increased 5.4 times in comparison with nondiabetic individuals and a distinct correlation of increased permeability with the presence and duration of retinal nonperfusion areas was observed.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Göbbels
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spitznas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oldendoerp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D019793:Fluorescein