Endothelial Cell Count and Central Corneal Thickness In Type-2 Diabetes

Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating and comparing the values of Endothelial Cell Density (ECD) and Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) among Type 2 Diabetic cases and Non-Diabetics. It also aimed at finding the correlation between ECD and CCT with the diabetes duration, Random Blood Sugar (RBS) levels, and more severe stages of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) in the diabetic subjects. Design: Comparative Cross-sectional. Study Setting and Duration: The data was collected from the General Outdoor Patient Department (OPD) of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan within duration of 8 months from January to August 2021. Methodology: After taking the informed consent, a complete history of each subject was taken. ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) visual acuity chart was used to evaluate Visual acuity and subjective refraction and then a complete slit-lamp anterior and posterior segment examination was performed followed by Specular Microscopy to measure the ECD and CCT. The diabetic subjects were checked for their RBS immediately after Specular Microscopy (TOMEY Specular Microscope EM-4000) using a digital glucometer and the readings were carefully recorded. Results: Results showed ECD to be significantly lower (p = 0.000) while CCT to be significantly higher (p = 0.000) in type-2 Diabetics than in Non-Diabetics. On correlation analysis, ECD was negatively correlated (p<0.05) while CCT was positively correlated (p<0.05) with diabetes duration, RBS, and severity of DR. Conclusion: This study concluded that the ECD and CCT were significantly different among diabetics and non-diabetics.