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

Purpose: To report the influence of rapid glycemic control on lens opacity in patients with diabetes mellitus, METHODS: Tn a prospective study, nine patients with adult onset diabetes me llitus and glycosylated hemoglobin values over 9% were divided into two gro ups, rapid glycemic control and slow glycemic control groups, based on the time course of glycosylated hemoglobin values after the initiation of glyce mic control. The lens thickness and opacity were measured using the anterio r eye segment analysis system. RESULTS: One week after onset of treatment, the lens in rapid glycemic cont rol group became significantly thicker than in pretreatment, but returned t o 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 throu ghout the 1-year study period. The lens thickness and opacity in the slow g lycemic control group did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that rapid glycemic control can induce an irre versible increase in lens opacification, (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.