Spectral Sensitivity Measurements in Early Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Patients with early background diabetic retinopathy and good visual acuity may have normal results on standard methods of measuring color vision. Measurement of individual spectral sensitivity functions shows a moderate decrease in sensitivity of the blue-sensitive receptor system. These results suggest that the blue-sensitive cone mechanism is affected earliest in mild background diabetic retinopathy and that disturbances in its spectral sensitivity function may precede other disturbances of macular function.