Changes in the Central Corneal Thickness in Diabetes Mellitus Patients with age and Gender Matched Healthy Controls in North Indian Population

Background: Since diabetes mellitus affects the all part of body including ocular structures so we planned a study to compare the central corneal thickness in diabetes mellitus patients with age and sex matched healthy controls in North Indian population. The aim of our study was to compare the central corneal thickness in diabetes mellitus patients with age and sex matched healthy controls in North Indian population. Methods: It was a prospective clinical study done at tertiary care centre on two hundred patients. Out of them 100 were diabetic and 100 were healthy subjects. The CCT measurement was done in enrolled patient using a non contact ultrasonic pachymeter probe gently placed in the mid pupillary axis of the cornea in undilated eye. All CCT and IOP recordings were done between 12- 2 pm keeping in mind the diurnal fluctuations. Data was analysed by SPSS Software version16. Results: CCT was higher in diabetics having duration > 10 years than those having duration < 10 years.Central corneal thickness values increased from patients with no diabetic retinopathy to those with proliferative retinopathy. Conclusion: The cornea of diabetics is significantly (P≤0.001) thicker than normal healthy subjects.