Central Corneal Thickness in Children With Diabetes

Abstract

To evaluate the central corneal thickness in children with diabetes and to determine the association between diabetes mellitus-related variables and central corneal thickness. Fifty-nine patients (mean age: 13.2 years) with diabetes mellitus and 38 controls (mean age: 10.3 years) were compared in terms of central corneal thickness assessed by ultrasound pachymetry. The effects of age, gender, the duration of diabetes mellitus, the mean and current hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level, and fasting blood sugar level on central corneal thickness were investigated. Analysis of covariance and multivariate regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. The analysis of covariance with age as the covariant indicated that the diabetes mellitus group had significantly increased central corneal thickness (mean: 576.9+/-41.8 microm) compared with the control group (mean: 521+/-16.6 microm) (P<.0001). A multivariate regression model evaluating the effects of age, gender, duration of diabetes mellitus, fasting blood glucose, and the mean and current HbA1C levels on central corneal thickness was statistically significant (F(4,54)=3.33, P=.016). The results indicated that the current HbA1c value was the only significant predictor for central corneal thickness (B=0.29, t=2.13, P=.038) (B=9.7 microm per 1% HbA1C and B=13.3 microm per 1% HbA1C for right and left eyes, respectively). Diabetic patients have a significantly increased (approximately 55 microm) central corneal thickness compared with healthy controls. Current HbA1C value, which is the marker of metabolic control of the disease, is the only disease-related variable that predicts a higher central corneal thickness.