Comparative Evaluation of Corneal Endothelial Parameters in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Individuals Using Specular Microscopy

Abstract

Ahmed E. Hussein, Adel K.M. Abdeen, Hassan A. Hanifa, Ahmed M.B. Awad.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a globally-expanding disease that alters the anatomy and physiology of all human tissues including the cornea. Corneal endothelium is believed to be negatively affected by the ongoing metabolic challenges in diabetic patients. Aims: To detect the differences in corneal endothelial morphology among diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Methods: A cross sectional study operated on total 46 subjects, twenty-three subjects were well-controlled type II DM patients and the other were non-diabetics. All subjects undergone specular microscopy. Collected data (Endothelial cell density (ECD), Coefficient Value (CV), percentage of hexagonal cells and Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) was statistically analyzed and presented in suitable charts and tables. Results: The mean endothelial cell density (ECD) in diabetic group was 2687.65 ± 155.99 cell/mm2 and 2751.43 ± 152.65 cell/mm2 in non-diabetic group. The difference in ECD in both groups was rated to be non-statistically significant. The mean CV value was significantly higher in diabetic subjects (P value<0.001).Mean percentage of hexagonal cells was lower in diabetic group (P value=0.297) and the mean central corneal thickness was higher in diabetic subjects (P=0.932). The differences in mean percentage of hexagonal cells and the mean central corneal thickness between both groups were statistically non-significant. Conclusion: Despite good control of glycemic condition, corneal endothelium in diabetic patients shows a lower density and a higher variation in the size and shape of hexagonal cells when compared to corresponding non-diabetic subjects