Influence of rapid glycemic control on lens opacity in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

To report the influence of rapid glycemic control on lens opacity in patients with diabetes mellitus. In a prospective study, nine patients with adult onset diabetes mellitus and glycosylated hemoglobin values over 9% were divided into two groups, rapid glycemic control and slow glycemic control groups, based on the time course of glycosylated hemoglobin values after the initiation of glycemic control. The lens thickness and opacity were measured using the anterior eye segment analysis system. One week after onset of treatment, the lens in rapid glycemic control group became significantly thicker than in pretreatment, but returned to the baseline level at the subsequent measurement points. The lens opacity index in the rapid glycemic control group increased significantly (P <.01, paired t test) 4 months after the glycemic control, which persisted throughout the 1-year study period. The lens thickness and opacity in the slow glycemic control group did not change significantly. It was suggested that rapid glycemic control can induce an irreversible increase in lens opacification.