CORNEAL SENSATION IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT AND NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETICS WITH PROLIFERATIVE RETINOPATHY

The corneal sensation of diabetic patients undergoing pan retinal phot ocoagulation for the treatment of proliferative retinopathy was measur ed using the Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. Insulin dependent and non-i nsulin dependent diabetics both showed significantly decreased corneal sensitivity, and there was no significant change following pan-retina l photocoagulation. Insulin dependent diabetics with proliferative ret inopathy had been diagnosed for a significantly longer period than non -insulin dependent diabetics, but had better corneal sensitivity than the latter group. Male patients were more likely to have brown irides, whereas there was a preponderance of blue irides amongst the females. Patients with blue irides also had significantly lower sensitivity th an patients with brown irides. The results are discussed.