Contrast Sensitivity in Adolescents with Diabetes

J.Munns, BAppSciHon(Cumb), DOBA
A.Fitzgerald, DipAppSci(Cumb), DOBA, MPH(Syd)

Due to the nature of diabetic retinopathy, early detection of visual dysfunction is important in diabetic patients. It has been demonstrated in the literature that contrast sensitivity testing can be used as an early index of change in the retina of diabetic patients. Most studies in this area have been conducted on adults. Forty nine diabetic subjects aged 12 to 18 years with normal visual acuity had contrast sensitivity assessed on the Vistech VCTS 6500. Their results were compared to a group of 202 age matched normal subjects. The results of this study reveal that adolescent diabetics show a decrease in contrast sensitivity function, when results are subject to statistical analysis, however the loss in contrast sensitivity would not necessarily be detected n a clinical situation.