Contrast Sensitivity in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetics.

Nah, Hyun; Kwon, Oh Woong; Kim, Hong Bok; Lim, Seung Jeong

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1986;27(3):317-320.
Published online March 1, 1986.

Contrast Sensitivity in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetics.

Hyun Nah, Oh Woong Kwon, Hong Bok Kim, Seung Jeong Lim

Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

인슐린 비의존성 당뇨병환자에서의 Contrast Sensitivity 의 변화

김홍복(Hong Bok Kim),권오웅(Oh Woong Kwon),나현(Hyun Nah),임승정(Seung Jung Lim)

Abstract

Contrast sensitivity measurements were obtained from 45 patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) who had normal Snellen acuity and minimal or no visible diabetic retinopathy. Contrast sensitivity thresholds were determined with a convenient microcomputer driven display system developed by the members of Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine. The data obtained from each diabetic. patients were compared with the normal contrast sensitivity of Korean(Lee et al, 1984). We found that, 1) The patients with NIDDM and no retinopathy had abnormal contrast sensitivity at two spatial frequencies (0.4 and 27.4 LP/D). 2) The patients with NIDDM and background retinopathy had abnormal contrast sensitivity at nearly all spatial frequencies tested. We also found a dissociation of Snellen acuity and contrast sensitivity and that contrast sensitivity can be used as an early index of changes in the retina not demonstrated by measurements of visual acuity.