Abstract

PURPOSE: Cataract surgery is known to change the corneal endothelial cell density and morphology. In patients with diabetes, this change is more pronounced. This prospective cohort study was conducted to assess and compare the endothelial cell loss and change in central corneal thickness (CCT) after manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in patients with diabetes versus age-matched patients without diabetes.

METHODS: Consecutive patients with diabetes (153) in the age group 40-70 years and age-matched patients without diabetes (163) undergoing manual SICS were enrolled. Preoperative and 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months postsurgery assessments of corneal endothelial loss and change in CCT were done using specular microscopy and ultrasound pachymetry.

RESULTS: There was a steady drop in the endothelial density in both the groups postoperatively, with the percentage of endothelial loss at 6 weeks and 3 months being 9.26 ± 9.55 and 19.24 ± 11.57, respectively, in patients with diabetes and 7.67 ± 9.2 and 16.58 ± 12.9, respectively, in controls. The percentage of loss between 6 weeks and 3 months was found to be of significant difference (P < 0.023). In both the groups, an initial increase in CCT till the second postoperative week was followed by a reduction of CCT in the subsequent follow-up (sixth week) and a further reduction in the last follow-up (3 months). The change in CCT between the second and sixth weeks was significantly higher in the diabetic group (P = 0.045).

CONCLUSIONS: The diabetic endothelium was found to be under greater metabolic stress and had less functional reserve after manual SICS than the normal corneal endothelium.