Abstract
We examined lens autofluorescence and the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier in 56 diabetic patients (34 insulin-dependent and 22 non-insulin-dependent), using the Fluorotron Master (R), a commercially available fluorophotometer. Significant relationships were found between age and lens autofluorescence (p<0.01), between duration of diabetes and lens autofluorescence in insulin-dependent diabetics (p<0.01), and between duration of diabetes and blood-retinal barrier permeability in all diabetics (p<0.05). The relationships between lens autofluorescence and duration of diabetes in non-insulin dependent patients (p>0.05), and between lens autofluorescence or the penetration ratio and HBA Ic during the five preceding years (p>0.05) were not significant.
Fluorophotometry provides an objective and reproducible method for in vivo investigation of the ocular complications of diabetes and of the factors influencing them.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.