Corneal epithelial oxygen uptake rate in diabetes mellitus.

Corneal epithelial oxygen uptake rate (CEOUR) has been measured using a non-invasive polarographic electrode technique in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), all with varying degrees of retinopathy. CEOUR was found to be significantly reduced in diabetic patients when compared to age-matched non-diabetic controls--Type I diabetics p less than 0.001; Type 2 diabetics p less than 0.01. Known duration of DM and assay of instantaneous, medium and long term glycaemic control showed no significant correlation with CEOUR in the patients studied. These results give further evidence of abnormal corneal metabolism in DM. Reduced CEOUR may be a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic corneal epitheliopathy.