The impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on anterior segment parameters

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) on anterior segment parameters.

A total of 90 patients with DM and 30 control subjects were included, and patients were divided into three groups (n = 30 for each) based on the presence and type of diabetic retinopathy (DR) including those with no DR (NDR), those with nonproliferative DR (NPDR), and those with proliferative DR (PDR). Anterior segment parameters obtained with a Pentacam HR device were compared between study groups as well as according to the duration of diabetes and glycated hemoglobin level.

In the NPDR, there was a statistically significant increase in the zone 3 lens density (LD) compared to the control and NDR (P = 0.030 and P = 0046, respectively). The anterior chamber volume was significantly lower in the PDR than in the NPDR (P = 0010). Anterior chamber depth was significantly lower in the PDR than in the control (P = 0023). Diabetes duration of ≥20 years was associated with a significantly higher zone 3 lens densitometry value compared to diabetes duration of <10 years (P = 0037).

The detection of increased LD and other anterior segment changes in diabetic eyes using Pentacam may be an indicator in these patients that diabetes regulation should be controlled, even in the absence of clinical cataract development. It is noteworthy that the effects of DM on the anterior segment are not parallel to the effects on the retina.