title: Corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 29 eyes of 29 diabetic patients and 55 eyes of 55 nondiabetic controls, corneal epithelial permeability to fluorescein was measured using an anterior fluorophotometer. The average fluorescein concentration in the central cornea was compared between diabetic patients and controls. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the factors that affect corneal epithelial barrier function in diabetic patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average fluorescein concentrations in diabetic patients and nondiabetic controls were 44.1 +/- 25.3 ng/mL and 29.9 +/- 19.8 ng/mL (mean +/- SD), respectively (P = 0.0057, unpaired t test). An explanatory variable relevant to the impaired corneal epithelial barrier function was the serum hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentration (standardized partial regression coefficient = 0.466, P = 0.0163).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The corneal epithelial barrier function is impaired in diabetic patients. Diabetic patients with higher serum HbA1c levels are more predisposed to impaired barrier function in the corneal epithelium.
authors.affiliation: Meiwakai Medical Foundation, Miyata Eye Hospital, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Mamomu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gekka
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sameshima
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maruoka
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakahara
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019793:Fluorescein; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin