Ocular changes in insulin-dependent diabetic patients: risk factors

ABSTRACT

This work aimed at finding out the frequency of different ocular changes in insulin dependent diabetic patients and the relation - if any- between the present abnormalities and some of the suggested risk factors. The study was carried out on 40 insulin dependent diabetic patients ranging in age between 6.5 and 2 4 years and 10- age and sex- matched non-diabetic persons taken as control. Fifty percent of the studied eyes of diabetic patients had at least one abnormality. The presence of non-leaking microaneurysms was the most frequently observed one [52.5%], followed by conjunctival microvascular abnormalities [25%], then premature detachment of vitreous [22.5%] and leaking microaneurysms [22.5%]. Ocular changes were significantly more frequent among older diabetic patients [>/= 15 years of age], diabetics with longer duration of the disease [>4 years], and those with uncontrolled diabetic state [HbA1c >/= 8.75%]. Diabetic children less than 15 years of age who developed ocular abnormalities had significantly higher serum levels of triglyceride [TG] and very low density lipoproteins [VLDL] than those with no ocular changes. Diabetic patients aged more than 15 years, with ocular abnormalities, had significantly higher glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA[1c]] concentrations and longer duration of diabetes mellitus. It was concluded that the long-term glycemic control and the duration of diabetes mellitus were the major risk factors for the development of ocular changes among diabetics