Abstract

Study design: prospective cross-sectional study. Purpose: To evaluate the change in corneal endothelial cell morphology in diabetic patients in comparison to non-diabetics undergoing phacoemulsification surgery. Method: Study included 65 diabetic and non-diabetics patients in each group who underwent phacoemulsification surgery. Endothelial cell morphology like (ECD, PHC, CV, CCT) was analyzed preoperatively, postoperatively at day 1, 30 and 90. Results: ECD loss was more in diabetics compared to non-diabetics 9.3%, 11.86%, 12.50% and 6.2%, 6.61%, 6.86% respectively at postoperative day 1, 30 and 90. The CV was significantly (p=0.0001) more in diabetics than non-diabetics and PHC significantly (p=0.0001) decreased in both groups at postoperative follow ups. As stage of diabetic retinopathy advances, significant changes in endothelial cell morphology also becomes more evident. Conclusion: Diabetes affects the endothelial cell morphology significantly more compared to non-diabetics.