The microperimeter (MP-1) is ideal for detecting early retinal sensitivity loss in diabetic patients, claims a recent investigation in Retina.

Dr M.G. Nittala et al., Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, completed several ophthalmic examinations on 210 eyes of 160 patients. This included best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy and microperimetry. Subjects included healthy participants, diabetics with no retinopathy and patients suffering from different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Retinal sensitivity significantly decreased in correlation to DR severity. Mean foveal sensitivity was 16.68 ± 2.13 dB in healthy participants, 14.73 ± 3.64 dB in diabetics but no DR and 11.60 ± 5.76 dB in DR patients.

Diabetic patients with no DR experienced a significant loss of retinal sensitivity, compared to healthy subjects. Severe non-proliferative DR presented with a more significant loss of retinal sensitivity in he central 20, compared to those with other stages of DR.

The MP-1 is able to detect retinal sensitivity loss at an earlier stage in diabetic patients without DR. It is also a useful tool for measuring retinal sensitivity in DR patients. The MP-1 features scotomoa mapping, enabling the detection of functional vision in DR patients.

The abstract can be seen here.