We examined lens autofluorescence and the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier in 56 diabetic patients (34 insulin-dependent and 22 non-insulin-dependent), using the Fluorotron Master (R), a commercially available fluorophotometer. Significant relationships were found between age and lens autofluorescence (p < 0.01), between duration of diabetes and lens autofluorescence in insulin-dependent diabetics (p < 0.01), and between duration of diabetes and blood-retinal barrier permeability in all diabetics (p < 0.05). The relationships between lens autofluorescence and duration of diabetes in non-insulin dependent patients (p > 0.05), and between lens autofluorescence or the penetration ratio and HBA Ic during the five preceding years (p > 0.05) were not significant. Fluorophotometry provides an objective and reproducible method for in vivo investigation of the ocular complications of diabetes and of the factors influencing them.

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