Purpose: Assess the effect of diabetic control on corneal morphological parameters between diabetics and non-diabetic (control) eyes of the same age group.
Methods: Cross-sectional comparative study included 156 eyes of 100 patients, between 40 to 70 years old and of both genders, 104 eyes in control (non-DM) group and 52 eyes in DM group. All included eyes examined using specular microscope (Tomey EM- 3000) and Oculus Pentacam HR. Outcomes included assessment of effect of level of HbA1c, duration of DM and state of DR on corneal morphology.
Results: All studied specular microscope parameters (CED, CCT, NUM, AVG, SD, CV, MAX and MIN) were significantly affected in the DM group. Versus only K max, ACD, ACV, Q value, frontal and back elevation were significantly affected in DM group regarding pentacam derived parameters. NUM, AVG, SD and MIN were significantly affected by level of HbA1c regarding specular derived parameters, versus only corneal astigmatism was significantly affected by level of HbA1c regarding pentacam derived parameters. Duration of DM didn't significantly affect any of studied specular or pentacam derived parameters. State of DR was significantly affecting all studied specular derived parameters, except CV. Versus corneal astigmatism, ACV, back elevation, thinnest location y-coordination, pachymetric apex and pupil center were significantly affected in pentacam derived parameters regarding state of DR.
Conclusion: There were significant changes detected in corneal parameters in DM eyes included in this study. These changes were affected by level of HbA1c and state of DR but not affected by duration of DM.