Nirmal Kumar Sasmal1, Somnath Das2, Sisir Singh3
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus along with its different serious pathological complications are increasing very rapidly in both developed and developing countries and manifesting as an escalating pandemic leading to morbidity and untimely death. This may lead to irreversible socioeconomic and psychosocial damage to the individuals, families and communities, either directly or indirectly. Assessment of Central Corneal Thickness (CCT) and Central Corneal Endothelial Cell Count (CCEC) in different stages of DR would help us to understand how rapidly the disease spreads, which could in turn be used as guidelines for disease screening in patients as risk to developing the disease.
The aim of the study is to understand the association of CCT and CECC with progressive stages of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) in Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM-2).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A case-control study was performed with a random eye from cases, No Diabetic Retinopathy (NDR), Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR) to determine association of DR with CCT and CECC. Parameters were quantified by ultrasonic pachymeter and specular microscope and results statistically analysed to understand significant association.
RESULTS
Significant increase in CCT was observed in NPDR and PDR compared to controls or NDR. Conversely, NPDR and PDR showed significant decrease compared to controls or NDR. CCT and CECC showed significant inverse correlation in all groups.
CONCLUSION
CCT and CECC showed significant increase and decrease respectively with stages of DR and were inversely correlated with each other. Assessment of CCT and CECC could thus be used as effective indicators of ocular manifestations of DM for early therapeutic intervention.
