Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationship between corneal sensitivity and diabetic retinopathy among diabetics attending a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the relationship between corneal sensitivity and diabetic retinopathy among diabetics attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital, compared to their age–sex-matched non-diabetics, with a view to proposing its use as a screening tool for diabetic retinopathy.

Methods

The study was a hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study among diabetics aged 25–65 years and their age–sex-matched non-diabetics at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Interviewer-based questionnaire was administered. Corneal sensitivity was assessed with Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. Dilated fundoscopy examination was carried out using slit-lamp bio-microscope with 78D lens and binocular indirect ophthalmoscope.

Results

A total of 120 diabetics and 120 age- and sex-matched non-diabetics were enrolled into the study. Among the diabetics, the mean corneal sensitivity was 52.6 ± 6.9 mm, which was statistically lower than among non-diabetics − 58.2 ± 3.0 mm (p-value < 0.05). Twenty-one percent of the diabetic respondents had diabetic retinopathy. The mean cornea sensitivity was statistically lower among diabetics who had developed diabetic retinopathy compared to those with no diabetic retinopathy (48.9 ± 7.3 vs. 55.3 ± 5.4, p < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the aesthesiometer for proliferative diabetic retinopathy at 55 mm cut-off were 100% and 58%, respectively.

Conclusion

Cornea sensitivity was significantly lower among diabetics with retinopathy compared to those without retinopathy. Also, the degree of cornea sensation loss among diabetics reduced significantly with severity of diabetic retinopathy. Larger validity studies need to be conducted to further assess the use of corneal aesthesiometer as a screening tool for diabetic retinopathy among non-ophthalmologists and other cadres of health workers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Uloko AE, Ofoegbu EN, Chinenye S, Fasanmade OA, Fasanmade AA, Ogbera AO et al (2012) Profile of Nigerians with diabetes mellitus—Diabcare Nigeria study group (2008): results of a multicenter study. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 16(4):558–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. International Diabetes Federation (2017) IDF Diabetes Atlas. 8th ed. http://www.diabetesatlas.org/. Accessed Aug 2017

  3. World Health Organization. Priority eye diseases. http://www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/index5.html. Accessed Sep 2017

  4. Vijan S, Hofer TP, Hayward RA (2000) Cost-utility analysis of screening intervals for diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. JAMA 283(7):889–896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ovenseri-Ogbomo GO, Abokyi S, Koffuor GA, Abokyi E (2013) Knowledge of diabetes and its associated ocular manifestations by diabetic patients: a study at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Niger Med J. 54(4):217–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schultz RO, Peters MA, Sobocinski K, Nassif K, Schultz KJ (1983) Diabetic corneal neuropathy. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 81:107–124

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Varkevisser CM, Pathmanathan I, Brownlee AT (2003) Designing and conducting health systems research projects: IDRC

  8. Komolafe RD, Pedro-Egbe CN, Awoyesuku EA (2016) Correlation between corneal sensitivity and peripheral neuropathy in type 2 diabetics attending the endocrinology clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria. Ophthalmol Res 1–9

  9. Lv H, Li A, Zhang X, Xu M, Qiao Y, Zhang J et al (2014) Meta-analysis and review on the changes of tear function and corneal sensitivity in diabetic patients. Acta Ophthalmol 92(2):e96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Tavakoli M, Kallinikos PA, Efron N, Boulton AJ, Malik RA (2007) Corneal sensitivity is reduced and relates to the severity of neuropathy in patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care 30(7):1895–1897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Cousen P, Cackett P, Bennett H, Swa K, Dhillon B (2007) Tear production and corneal sensitivity in diabetes. J Diabetes Complications 21(6):371–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Adeoti C, Isawumi M, Ashaye A, Olomola B (2012) The anterior segment of the eye in diabetes. Clin Ophthalmol. 6:667–671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Djrolo F, Paraïso NM, Diarra O, Makoutode M (2014) Diabetes complications and associated factors in type 2 diabetic patients in Cotonou. J Diabetes Mellitus. 4(04):311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Rotimi C, Daniel H, Zhou J, Obisesan A, Chen G, Chen Y et al (2003) Prevalence and determinants of diabetic retinopathy and cataracts in West African type 2 diabetes patients. Ethn Dis 13(2 Suppl 2):S110–S117

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Saini JS, Mittal S (1996) Graded corneal sensitivity for screening of diabetic retinopathy. Indian J Ophthalmol 44(4):219–223

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Saito J, Enoki M, Hara M, Morishige N, Chikama T, Nishida T (2003) Correlation of corneal sensation, but not of basal or reflex tear secretion, with the stage of diabetic retinopathy. Cornea 22(1):15–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Buxton M, Sculpher M, Ferguson B, Humphreys J, Altman J, Spiegelhalter D et al (1991) Screening for treatable diabetic retinopathy: a comparison of different methods. Diabet Med 8(4):371–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hotel Dieu Hospital/Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Monsurah Olabimpe Salami

  2. Department of Ophthalmology (Guinness Eye Centre), Lagos University Teaching Hospital/College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria

    Olufisayo Temitayo Aribaba, Kareem Olatunbosun Musa, Adekunle Rotimi-Samuel & Adeola Olukorede Onakoya

Authors
  1. Monsurah Olabimpe Salami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olufisayo Temitayo Aribaba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kareem Olatunbosun Musa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Adekunle Rotimi-Samuel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Adeola Olukorede Onakoya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors met the criteria for authorship as outlined below. (i) Made a substantial contribution to the concept and design, acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data. (ii) Drafted the article or revised it critically for important intellectual content. (iii) Approved the version to be published. (iv) Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Monsurah Olabimpe Salami.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salami, M.O., Aribaba, O.T., Musa, K.O. et al. Relationship between corneal sensitivity and diabetic retinopathy among diabetics attending a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Int Ophthalmol 40, 2707–2716 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01456-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01456-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation