Association of pupil responses with severity of erectile dysfunction in diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE: To investigate the relation between erectile dysfunction (ED) severity and pupillary functions in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: This prospective and observational study included 90 patients with type 2 DM and ED. Patients divided into three subgroups according to severity of ED: (i) Mild ED, (ii) Moderate ED and (iii) Severe ED groups. Thirty age-matched healthy subjects formed the control group. Main outcome measures were pupil diameter and average speed of pupil dilation. Static and dynamic pupillometry analysis was performed using the Sirius Topographer (CSO, Firenze, Italy). RESULTS: Mean pupil diameter during static and dynamic pupillometry analysis were significantly greater in the control group than in the all study groups (P < 0.05). Mean pupil diameter in static pupillometry analysis was significantly different in each study group and pupil was more miotic in the Severe ED group than in the both Moderate and Mild ED groups (P < 0.05 for each). Dynamic pupillometry analysis revealed that mean pupil diameter and mean average dilation speed were significantly different in each study group throughout measurement period and the highest speed was observed in the Mild ED group and the lowest speed was observed in the severe ED group (P < 0.005 for each). CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that abnormal pupil functions due to diabetic autonomic neuropathy may indicate the associated ED in patients with DM.