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Corneal hydration control in diabetes mellitus
B C Weston1, W M Bourne, K A Polse
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Diabetic corneas show increased thickness and autofluorescence but less swelling and reduced endothelial permeability during hypoxia. However, no differences in corneal function were observed during normoxia, suggesting diabetes severity impacts endothelial cell morphology.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Diabetology
- Corneal Physiology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease with potential ocular complications.
- The cornea's structure and function can be affected by metabolic changes associated with diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus on corneal structure and function.
- To compare corneal endothelial permeability and deswelling capacity between diabetic patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Endothelial permeability and corneal deswelling were measured in diabetic patients and controls after hypoxic contact lens wear.
- Corneal thickness and endothelial cell morphology were assessed.
- Nonlinear regression analysis was used to estimate deswelling rates and open eye steady state thickness.
Main Results:
- Diabetic corneas exhibited greater open eye steady state thickness and increased autofluorescence compared to controls.
- During hypoxia, diabetic corneas showed reduced swelling and lower endothelial permeability.
- No significant differences in deswelling rates or permeability were observed between groups during normoxia post-hypoxia.
Conclusions:
- Diabetic corneas are thicker and more autofluorescent, with altered responses to hypoxia.
- Corneal endothelial function normalizes under normoxic conditions post-hypoxia.
- The severity of nonproliferative retinopathy in diabetes correlates with changes in corneal endothelial cell morphology.