Teresa Lupión Durán1, Antonio García-Ben2, Verónica Rodríguez Méndez3, Luís Gálvez Alcázar4, Emma García-Ben5, José Manuel García-Campos6. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlerbrough, UK. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Santiago de Compostela University Medical School, C/ Ramon Baltar s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela-La Coruña, Spain. Antoniobengar@hotmail.com. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Basurto Hospital, Bilbao, Spain. 4. El Palo Health Center, Málaga, Spain. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Ferrol University Hospital Complex, La Coruña, Spain. 6. Department of Ophthalmology, Virgen de La Victoria University Medical School, Málaga, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To analyze high and low contrast visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in diabetic patients without clinically significant macular edema associated or not with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 368 eyes of 368 patients classified into three groups: a) disease-free patients, b) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) without diabetic retinopathy, c) DM patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination that included high and low contrast visual acuity with 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% contrast chart and Pelli-Robson type contrast sensitivity test. RESULTS: We observed no statistically significant differences regarding age, intraocular pressure, duration of diabetes or high contrast visual acuity. The eyes of patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy had worse contrast sensitivity (p = 0.03, in both cases) and low contrast visual acuity at 1.5% (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01), 2.5% (p = 0.01, in both cases) and 5% (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04) than patients free of disease or without diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of contrast sensitivity and low contrast visual acuity could be considered as markers of visual function impairment in the eyes of patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
PURPOSE: To analyze high and low contrast visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in diabeticpatients without clinically significant macular edema associated or not with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 368 eyes of 368 patients classified into three groups: a) disease-free patients, b) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) without diabetic retinopathy, c) DMpatients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination that included high and low contrast visual acuity with 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% contrast chart and Pelli-Robson type contrast sensitivity test. RESULTS: We observed no statistically significant differences regarding age, intraocular pressure, duration of diabetes or high contrast visual acuity. The eyes of patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy had worse contrast sensitivity (p = 0.03, in both cases) and low contrast visual acuity at 1.5% (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01), 2.5% (p = 0.01, in both cases) and 5% (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04) than patientsfree of disease or without diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of contrast sensitivity and low contrast visual acuity could be considered as markers of visual function impairment in the eyes of patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.