Corneal Endothelial Changes after Phacoemulsification in Diabetic and Non diabetic Patients

Background: The corneal endothelium is a layer of hexagonal cells situated on the back of the cornea. It acts as a barrier to maintain the cornea's transparency. Aim and objectives: Comparing post-phacoemulsification corneal endothelium alterations in non-diabetic patients to type 2 DM patients with grade 2 nuclear cataracts using specular microscopy. Patients and Methods: This comparative prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on forty patients who had cataracts following phacoemulsification. The patients were divided into two equal groups: twenty patients with T2DM and twenty patients who did not have diabetes. The Ophthalmology Department of the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Azhar University for Boys was the source of the collected patients. Results: Regarding IOP, Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) preoperative or postoperative, Coefficient of Variance (CoV) preoperative and postoperative, Hex preoperative, central corneal thickness (CCT) preoperative and postoperative, and CCT change, there was no statistically significant variation among the two groups while regarding random blood sugar (RBS), Endothelial cell density (ECD) preoperative and postoperative, ECD change and Hex changes, there was a highly statistical significant variation. Regarding CoV change and Hex postoperative, there was a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: There were significant changes in DM patients after phacoemulsification compared with non-diabetic patients. There was significance between the studied groups regarding ECD, CoV change, and Hexagonalty of the cells. There was a negative correlation between RBS (mg/dl) and endothelial cell density change and between Endothelial cell density and age.