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Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:493-498 doi:10.1136/bjo.84.5.493
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Ocular haemodynamics and colour contrast sensitivity in patients with type 1 diabetes

  1. Oliver Findla,b,
  2. Susanne Dallingera,
  3. Birgit Ramic,
  4. Kaija Polaka,
  5. Edith Schoberc,
  6. Andreas Wedrichb,
  7. Eva Riesb,
  8. Hans-Georg Eichlera,
  9. Michael Wolzta,
  10. Leopold Schmetterera,d
  1. aDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Austria, bDepartment of Ophthalmology, cDepartment of Pediatrics, dInstitute of Medical Physics
  1. Dr L Schmetterer, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria leopold.schmetterer{at}univie.ac.at
  • Accepted 13 January 2000

Abstract

BACKGROUND There is evidence that altered ocular blood flow is involved in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, the nature of these perfusion abnormalities is still a matter of controversy. Ocular haemodynamics were characterised with two recently introduced methods.

METHODS The cross sectional study was performed in 59 patients with type 1 diabetes with a diabetes duration between 12 and 17 years and an age less than 32 years and a group of 25 age matched healthy controls. Scanning laser Doppler flowmetry and laser interferometric measurement of fundus pulsation amplitude were used to assess retinal and pulsatile choroidal blood flow, respectively. In addition, colour contrast sensitivity along the tritan axis was determined.

RESULTS Fundus pulsation amplitude, but not retinal blood flow, increased with the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Retinal blood flow was influenced by plasma glucose levels (r = 0.32), whereas fundus pulsation amplitude was associated with HbA1c(r = 0.30). In addition, a negative correlation between the colour contrast sensitivity along the tritan axis and retinal blood flow was observed.

CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that pulsatile choroidal blood flow increases with the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Increased retinal blood flow appears to be related to loss of colour sensitivity in patents with type 1 diabetes.

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