Corneal autofluorescence in relation to permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier in diabetic patients with clinically significant macular edema and in an age-matched control group.

Purpose. Corneal autofluorescence is related to advanced glycation end products formed by glucose that reaches the cornea via the aqueous humour. The aim of the study was to examine the influence on autofluorescence of changes in permeability of the blood aqueous barrier. Methods. Corneal autofluorescence was measured in 50 diabetic patients with clinically significant macular edema and in 28 age-matched control subjects. Permeability of the blood aqueous barrier was assessed using the diffusion coefficient of fluorescein. Results. Corneal autofluorescence was higher in diabetic subjects than in the control group, mean (SD) at an excitation wavelength of 458nm was 41.2 ng f-eq/ml (11.7) in diabetic patients and 26.5 ng f-eq/ml (7.3) in the control group, p < 0.001. The mean permeability of the blood aqueous barrier, Kd(F), was 492.0 · 10 -6 min -1 in the diabetic patients and 484.2 10 -6 min -1 in the control group. There was no association between permeability of the blood aqueous barrier and corneal ...