Confocal microscopy effective for diagnosing diabetic neuropathy

Because the cornea is so highly innervated, it is possible to diagnose and assess diabetic neuropathy using confocal microscopy, according to a summary of a presentation made at the British Contact Lens Association conference.

This way, clinicians can diagnose diabetic neuropathy in a much more effective and much less invasive way, Mitra Tavakoli explained during her Irving Fatt lecture.

Using this method, Tavakoli’s team has not only been able to see nerve fiber damage in patients with diabetes, but has also been able to differentiate between controls and those with moderate or severe damage, according to the summary.

Correlations between nerve damage and a reduction in corneal sensitivity were also observed.

Neural regeneration was detectable with confocal microscopy in patients who had received kidney and pancreas transplants after only 6 months as compared to 4 years with conventional techniques, the summary said.

This method has also confirmed that neuropathy has an immunological basis.

Tavakoli’s team at the University of Manchester is in the process of developing software to automate the quantification of corneal nerve damage, which will make this technology even more straightforward, according to the summary.