Comparative Evaluation of Corneal Endothelial Morphology in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy Individuals Using Specular Microscopy

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus can result in structural alterations of the corneal endothelium that are liable to modify corneal function. This research was conducted to analyze differences in corneal endothelial morphology of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and healthy subjects using specular microscopy.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was done on a total of 184 people, out of which 92 were Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients and 92 were healthy individuals matched for age. Parameters of corneal endothelium like endothelial cell density (ECD), average cell size, coefficient of variation (CV), and hexagonality were measured using noncontact specular microscopy.

Results: Compared to the control group, diabetic patients had a A lot reduced ECD and hexagonality However their mean cell area and CV were Quite a bit higher (p<0.05). ECD reduction and mean cell area enlargement were correlated with the length of diabetes and the severity of the diabetic retinopathy. More severe diabetic retinopathy was linked to higher levels of HbA1c.

Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with significant corneal endothelial morphological changes, which become more pronounced with increasing disease duration and severity of diabetic retinopathy.