[The role of color vision disturbances in diagnostics of early diabetic retinopathy].

Purpose: The evaluations of color vision sensitivity in children with type I diabetes mellitus without retinopathy.

Material And Method: We examined 96 young patients. They was divided into three groups: I: 35 children from 7 to 16 years old with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus duration of 1-8 years, II: 30 children with type I diabetes lasting more then 8 years, III--31 non-diabetic subjects as a control-matched for age and sex, without visual or systemic symptoms. The examinations of colour vision sensitivity were done with the IF-2AII-color Anomaloscope. In all cases were tested the dynamic blue-green equation of Moreland and two variables were determined: setting (matching) range (SR), calculated mid point (matching mid point) (CMP).

Results: In the blue-green equation setting range (SR) was significantly (p < 0.01) enlarged in the II group (diabetes mellitus duration > 8 years) and calculated mid point (CMP) was shifted but no significant. The results indicate a diminution of the colour discriminating sensitivity in the short wavelength half of the visible spectrum and diminution of the blue cone sensitivity in early diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusions: Blue-green colour vision testing with the anomaloscope may serve as an additional test in the diagnosis of early diabetic retinopathy in children without vascular changes at the eye fundus.