Abstract

To evaluate corneal biomechanical properties, intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness in type 2 diabetic patients by Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA), ORA measurements were performed on the 80 eyes of 40 diabetic patients (group I) and 80 eyes of 40 healthy people who served as the control group (group II). Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), intraocular pressure (Goldmann correlated [IOPg], corneal compensated [IOPcc]) and central corneal thickness (CCT) values were determined by ORA. Mean age of patients with diabetic melitus (DM) and control groups were 51.8 ± 5.8 and 51.2 ± 7.1 years, respectively. Mean CH and CRF were 9.44 ± 0.62 versus 9.41 ± 0.50 (p=0.738) and 11.58 ± 0.60 versus 10.56 ± 0.50 (p<0.001), in groups I and II, respectively. Mean IOPg and IOPcc were 19.90 ± 3.35 mmHg versus 18.90 ± 2.56 mmHg (p=0.036) and 17.41 ± 2.57 mmHg versus 17.22 ± 2.66 mmHg (p=0.651) in groups I and II, respectively. Mean CCT’s were 548.02 ± 23.16 versus 521.92±31.60 (p<0.001) in groups I and II, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences for CRF, IOPg and CCT values between groups. CRF, IOPg and CCT values were altered in diabetics and these changes can be detected by ORA. Further studies are required to establish the effects of type 2 diabetes on corneal biomechanical properties.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, ocular response analyzer, corneal biomechanical characteristics, central corneal thickness.