Comparison of corneal changes after phacoemulsification in diabetic and nondiabetic eyes

Background and aim Endothelium of the cornea is susceptible to surgical trauma during phacoemulsification from ultrasound energy. Several studies have reported various results of corneal changes after phacoemulsification in diabetic and healthy patients. The aim was to evaluate and compare changes in precorneal tear film, anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, endothelial cell changes, and central corneal thickness (CCT) between diabetic and healthy patients before and after uneventful phacoemulsification. Patients and methods A total of 40 eyes of 40 patients who were scheduled for cataract surgery were divided into group 1 (20 eyes in nondiabetic patients) and group 2 (20 eyes in diabetic patients). Ophthalmological examinations, including uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp to examine anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, tear film breakup time test (TBUT), anterior chamber depth by IOL Master (Topcon ALADDIN HW2.0), and specular microscopy (Topcon SP-1P, made In Japan), were done preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Results Significant differences were found between preoperative and postoperative periods in both groups regarding BCVA, TBUT, CCT, endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation, and hexagonal cells, except that changes became insignificant with respect to CCT at 3 months in nondiabetic and at 1 week and 3 months in diabetic and in CD at 1 month in healthy patients. Conclusion There were significant changes in BCVA, TBUT, CCT, and ECD after phacoemulsification in the diabetic and healthy groups. There was a significant delay in the recovery of CCT 1 month after phacoemulsification in the diabetic compared with healthy individuals.