Preretinopic changes in the colour vision of juvenile diabetics.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the colour vision of juvenile patients suffering from diabetes mellitus without retinopathy in relation to metabolic and ophthalmic state.


METHODS
Metameric matches, both Rayleigh (red/green) and Moreland (blue/green) were used to test the colour vision yearly of 10 juvenile patients. The patients were monitored over 4 years, and during the final year, their blood glucose level was determined directly after testing colour vision. An ophthalmic examination was performed on the day of colour vision testing and blood and urine were analysed regularly throughout the 4 years. Their results are compared with an aged matched control group of 20 subjects, seven of whom were retested after 9-16 months.


RESULTS
After 4 years, the colour vision results show an enlarged matching range for the Moreland match, as well as a smaller increase in the matching range for the Rayleigh match. No significant correlation was found between blood glucose at the time of testing and any of the variables measured.


CONCLUSIONS
The pattern of colour vision deficits in metameric matching shown by juvenile diabetics is consistent with postreceptoral alterations of the inner retina, at this preretinopic stage of disease. Duration of diabetes is correlated with both colour vision changes and morphological alteration of the retina.
Kurtenbach
A
A
University Eye Hospital, Department of Pathology of Vision and Neuroophthalmology, Tübingen, Germany.
Schiefer
U
U
Neu
A
A
Zrenner
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003119:Color Perception Tests; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose