Correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus and central corneal thickness: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aim: Diabetes has emerged as an important global health concern because of itsvarious adverse effects on the ocular tissue. The present study was done to study the correlationbetween type 2 diabetes mellitus and central corneal thickness in patients coming to the tertiarycare institute of Gujarat, India. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted over 1year at the tertiary care institute of Gujarat, India.50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellituspreviously diagnosed by a physician on treatment and 50 age-matched controls who are non-diabetics on history and blood sugar levels were enrolled. The central corneal thickness wasmeasured using an ultrasound pachymeter using multiple reading single point modes by a singleperson. Results: The mean central corneal thickness in diabetics was 565 ± 21 micrometres and innon-diabetics was 517 ± 20 micrometres. The central corneal thickness was found to be higher inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus when compared to non-diabetics. Conclusion: Patients withtype 2 diabetes mellitus were found to have thicker corneas as compared to non-diabetics. Thisshould take into consideration while interpreting intraocular pressure and before any refractivesurgeries in diabetics.