title: Development of an instrument for measurement of light scattering at the corneal epithelial basement membrane in diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic complications are associated with abnormality of the basement membranes. We have developed a light-scattering detection system (LSDS) specifically for measurement of light scattering at the corneal epithelial basement membrane, and have determined the reproducibility and clinical significance of the results obtained by the LSDS in diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty nondiabetic controls and 40 diabetic subjects participated in the study. Light scattering at the corneal epithelial basement membrane was measured with the LSDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurement of light scattering at the corneal basement membrane was found to be reproducible. The LSDS index (mean +/- SD) was 28.1 +/- 4.8 in controls, 35.7 +/- 6.3 in mild diabetic retinopathy subjects, and 42.7 +/- 8.6 in severe diabetic retinopathy subjects. This demonstrated that the LSDS index at the corneal basement membrane is proportional to the extent of diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of light scattering at the corneal epithelial basement membrane is possible with the LSDS, is relatively easy to perform, and is reproducible. The LSDS may prove suitable for the early detection of diabetic ocular complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakuta
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morishige
authors.forename: Tai-ichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chikama
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sumii
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation