COMPARING ENDOTHELIAL CELL COUNT AND CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS IN DIABETICS AND NON-DIABETICS

Aim: To compare the endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Material and Methods: A comparative study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology at a Tertiary Care Hospital of Central Gujarat for a period of 10 months. A total 388 patients with age greater than 40 years were enrolled; 194 were diabetic(cases) and 194 non-diabetic patients ( controls). Ophthalmic examination was done, and the various endothelial cell parameters including the endothelial cell count and central corneal thickness were measured in the central area in both eyes of all patients by non-contact specular microscope. Results:Atotal of 388 patients were divided into four main age groups, which were 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and greater than 70 years, and then the cell density in various groups was compared in cases and controls. The cell density in the age group 60-69 years in the diabetic population was 2466.626 ± 282.350 cells/mm2 while in the non-diabetic it was 2631.337 ±355.023 cells/mm2. We observed lower density in diabetics, which was statistically signicant (p≤0.001). We also had a greater number of male diabetics in our study population. The mean central corneal thickness was found to be greater in diabetics (511.945 microns ±31.762) than in the non -diabetics (500.180 microns ±38.841) in our study, which too was found to be statistically signicant (p value being 0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that the endothelial cell density was lower in diabetic population compared to non-diabetic and the central corneal thickness was higher in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients.