Is there a correlation between diabetes mellitus and central corneal thickness?

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease affecting multiple organs, including the eyes.
• Central corneal thickness (CCT) is a significant factor in intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement accuracy.
• Understanding variations in CCT in diabetic patients is essential for comprehensive eye care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between diabetes mellitus and central corneal thickness (CCT).
• To compare CCT in diabetic patients with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
• To explore potential correlations between CCT, diabetic retinopathy severity, disease duration, and glycemic control.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 245 subjects (100 diabetic patients, 145 healthy controls).
• Central corneal thickness (CCT) measured using ultrasonic pachymetry.
• Diabetic patients categorized into subgroups based on diabetic retinopathy presence and severity.
• Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and correlation analysis.

Main Results:

• Diabetic patients exhibited significantly greater mean CCT (564±30 μm) compared to healthy controls (538±35 μm; P=0.001).
• A trend of increasing CCT with diabetic retinopathy severity was observed, though not statistically significant (P=0.056).
• No significant correlation found between CCT, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, or disease duration.

Conclusions:

• Diabetic patients demonstrate a thicker central cornea compared to non-diabetic individuals.
• The increased CCT in diabetics necessitates consideration for accurate intraocular pressure (IOP) assessment.
• This finding has implications for glaucoma screening and management in the diabetic population.