A comparative study of central corneal thickness in diabetics and non-diabetics using ultrasonic pachymetry

Abstract

To determine association between central corneal thickness and type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients attending outpatient department of Ophthalmology at a tertiary care centre in North Karnataka.This is a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of April 2018 – September 2020 on patients attending outpatient department of Ophthalmology at a tertiary care centre in North Karnataka. Study includes 168 subjects divided into 3 groups: 40 diabetics whose duration >10 years46 diabetics whose duration ≤10 yearsand 82 controls.Detailed ophthalmic examination was conducted in all patients and central corneal thickness was measured using ultrasound pachymetry.A statistically significant difference was found between mean central corneal thickness of diabetics (534.0581µ - right eye; 534.3605µ - left eye) and non-diabetics (525.8659µ - right eye; 525.8659µ - left eye); p value <0.05. Association between central corneal thickness and age, gender, laterality and duration of diabetes were not statistically significant.Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have thicker corneas as compared to non-diabetics. Henceforth, it is important to measure central corneal thickness in all diabetics, as it affects IOP measurement which is vital for early diagnosis and timely treatment of glaucoma.