Background: Corneal thickness serves as an index for corneal hydration and metabolism. Corneal endothelial damage following phacoemulsification still one of the major concerns of cataract surgery. Aim of the Work:assess the effect of phacoemulsification on central corneal thickness in non-diabetic and diabetic patients.Methods: 2 groups: 10 cases non-diabetic and 10 cases diabetic without retinopathy ranged from 18 to 60 years, with a mean age of 56.50 years in the non-diabetic group and 55.70 years in the diabetic without retinopathy group. SD in non- diabetic group ± 2.22, in the diabetic without retinopathy group ±3.13, p = 0.518, in the non- diabetic group 7 (70.0 %) men and 3 (30.0%) women. In the diabetic without retinopathy group, 6 (60.0%) men and 4 (40.0%) women.
In the non- diabetic group, the mean average CCT was 500.80 ± 23.73μm before phaco, 508.90 ± 28.33μm 0ne week after phaco with P = 0.021 and 501.10 ± 24.33μm one month after phaco with P = 0.011. In the diabetic without retinopathy group, the mean average CCT was 508.50 ±6.75μm before phaco ,535.20 ±16.98μm one week after phaco with P = 0.021 and 527.60 ±16.63 μm one month after phaco with P = 0.011.Results: a significant change in CCT after phacoemulsification in both diabetic and non-diabetic groups, the eyes of diabetic patients showed a delay in the postoperative recovery of corneal edema compared with non-diabetic eyes.Conclusion: diabetic Patients have significantly more corneal edema in comparison to non-diabetic controls with similar nuclear grading and phaco energy used.