Evidence for a neuropathic aetiology in the small pupil of diabetes mellitus.

Abstract

Infrared television pupillometry was performed on 34 insulin-treated diabetic patients and 55 healthy subjects. Sixteen of the diabetic patients had pupils that failed to dilate normally in darkness. The occurrence of a small pupil was associated with cardiac vagal dysfunction and somatic sensory loss. The small pupil was found to be supersensitive to the mydriatic effect of topical 2% phenylephrine but normally sensitive to 0.5% hydroxyamphetamine eyedrops. It is concluded that the failure of the pupil to dilate in darkness in some diabetic patients is due to neuropathy of the sympathetic innervation.

• Authors: S A Smith, S E Smith
• Journal: The British journal of ophthalmology (Br J Ophthalmol) Vol. 67 Issue 2 Pg. 89-93 (Feb 1983) ISSN: 0007-1161 [Print] England
• PMID: 6821679 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Phenylephrine
• p-Hydroxyamphetamine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aging
• Darkness
• Diabetic Neuropathies (physiopathology)
• Humans
• Iris (innervation)
• Middle Aged
• Phenylephrine (pharmacology)
• Pupil (drug effects, physiology)
• Sympathetic Nervous System (physiopathology)
• p-Hydroxyamphetamine (pharmacology)