Changes in Central Corneal Thickness and Corneal Endothelial Morphology in Contact Lens-Wearing Diabetic Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in central corneal thickness and corneal endothelium in contact lens-wearing diabetic patients. METHODS: This study included 113 patients who visited the Department of Ophthalmology, Konkuk University Medical Center from August 2006 to August 2007. Ultrasound pachymetry and noncontact specular microscopy were performed on the right eyes of 26 diabetic patients who regularly wore soft contact lenses (group 1), 27 diabetic patients who did not wear soft contact lenses (group 2), 30 soft contact lens-wearers without diabetes mellitus (DM) (group 3), and 30 normal subjects who did not wear soft contact lenses (group 4). Central corneal thickness, corneal endothelial cell density, endothelial cell coefficient of variation, and percentage of hexagonal endothelial cells were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Average duration of diabetes in groups 1 and 2 was 4.38 and 4.41 years, respectively, and average duration of soft contact lens wear in groups 1 and 3 was 5.27 and 3.65 years, respectively. The central cornea was significantly thicker and the endothelial cell density was significantly lower in group 1 than in groups 3 and 4. The cell size coefficient of variation was higher in group 1 than in groups 2 and 4 and higher in group 3 than in group 4. The percentage of hexagonal cells was significantly lower in group 3 than in group 4. CONCLUSIONS: Central corneal thickness and endothelial cell density are more affected by DM than contact lens use, and corneal endothelial cell morphology is influenced more by contact lens use than DM. Contact lens use in diabetic patients significantly influences all characteristics of the corneal endothelium compared with those in normal subjects. Patients with DM should be advised not to wear contact lenses.