A prospective study of contact lens wear in diabetes mellitus

A prospective, controlled, observer-masked study was conducted to investiga te the suitability of contact lenses for patients with diabetes mellitus. F orty diabetic patients and 40 non-diabetic control subjects were fitted wit h soft hydrogel contact lenses to be worn on a daily wear basis for 12 mont hs. The ocular response was assessed using slit lamp biomicroscopy, ultraso nic pachometry, corneal aesthesiometry and visual acuity measures. Compared to non-diabetic subjects, diabetic patients displayed significantly reduce d corneal transparency, variable vision and reduced comfort with the contac t lenses (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to ocular hyperaemia, corneal staining, corneal thickne ss, corneal sensitivity or high contrast visual acuity. Contrary to previou s reports, the response of the diabetic eye to contact lenses-as observed c linically-does not differ appreciably from that of the non-diabetic eye. Th ese results suggest that current generation daily wear soft contact lenses can be a viable mode of vision correction for diabetic patients. (C) 2001 T he College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.