IN-VIVO ASSESSMENT OF CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

Objective: To evaluate in vivo corneal endothelial function in patient s with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with or without diabeti c retinopathy. Methods: In age-matched samples of 45 eyes of diabetic patients and 15 eyes of healthy control subjects, corneal endothelial function was evaluated by using pachometric measurements of the cornea following hydrophilic contact lens wear of low oxygen transmissibilit y. Corneal deswelling regression was quantitated to arrive at the perc entage recovery per hour as an index of endothelial function. The stat us of retinopathy was determined in diabetic patients by using standar d criteria. Results: In patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic r etinopathy, the assessed mean (+/- SD) value for the percentage recove ry per hour following contact lens-induced edema was 40.03% +/- 7.27%, which was significantly lower than in eyes without changes of diabeti c retinopathy (54.31% +/- 6.88%). Also, diabetic patients without reti nopathy had a significantly lower percentage recovery per hour than di d healthy control subjects (65.27% +/- 12.02%). Conclusions: This stud y demonstrates significantly lower corneal endothelial function in pat ients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and thus suggests a higher potential to decompensate following any deleterious stress.