A model for the apparent decrease in optical transmittance of the diabetic eye.

Abstract

This paper compares observed changes of ocular transmittance at short and long wavelengths in diabetic patients with values predicted by a model based on the Rayleigh light scattering properties of albumin. Selective chromatic adaptation was used to obtain critical flicker fusion (CFF) frequency thresholds from 21 subjects and 18 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Ferry-Porter characteristic of each color-sensitive mechanism of each patient was compared to age-specific control values. For those eyes without an indication of neural injury, changes in optical density associated with the red- and blue-sensitive mechanisms were calculated and adjusted to reflect accelerated yellowing of the lens produced by increased duration of diabetes. The range of concentration of glycosylated albumin required to fit the model to the adjusted short-wavelength changes in optical density was determined and used to calculate the theoretical long-wavelength changes in optical density. The experimentally derived long-wavelength changes in optical density fell within the 95% confidence level of the values described by the model. These results support the premise that the apparent decrease in optical transmittance observed in patients with diabetes mellitus is caused by light scattering produced by dilute increase of plasma proteins within the retina.