Analysis of Corneal and Lens Densitometry Changes in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

& BULL; PURPOSE: By comparing the densitometry findings of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and the healthy group, we aimed to understand the possible changes that may occur in the cornea and lens in those with diabetes mellitus (DM).& BULL; DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study.& BULL; METHODS: A total of 60 eyes of 60 patients with T1DM and 101 eyes of 101 healthy subjects were in-cluded in this study. A complete ophthalmologic evalu-ation was performed in all participants. Scheimpflug to-mography was performed to record the corneal and lens densitometry and other tomographic data. Mean glycosy-lated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and mean DM duration were recorded.& BULL; RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with T1DM and patients in the control group was 29.93 & PLUSMN; 8.56 years and 27.27 & PLUSMN; 1 4.96 years, respectively. The mean HbA1c was 8.43 & PLUSMN; 1.92, and the mean DM duration was 14.10 & PLUSMN; 7.77 years. Corneal densitometry (CD) values were significantly higher in the 0-to 2-mm zone in all layers and in the anterior and central 6-to 10-mm zone in the diabetic group ( P = .03, P = .018, P = .001, P = .000, P = .004). The mean crystalline lens densitometry was higher in the T1DM group ( P = .129). There were pos-itive correlations between DM duration and CD in the anterior 0-to 2-mm ( P = .043), central 6-to 10-mm ( P = .016), posterior 6-to 10-mm ( P = .022), and posterior 10-to 12-mm zone ( P = .043). & BULL; CONCLUSIONS: CD values were significantly higher in the diabetic group. Diabetes duration and HbA1c val-ues showed correlations with densitometry especially in the 6-to 10-mm corneal zone. Evaluation of the cornea with optical densitometry will be useful in the early diag-nosis and follow-up of clinical structural and functional changes in the cornea.(Am J Ophthalmol 2023;254: 23-30. & COPY; 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Automated summary

This study compared the densitometry findings of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and a healthy group to understand the potential changes in the cornea and lens in those with diabetes mellitus (DM). The results showed significantly higher corneal densitometry values in the diabetic group, indicating the usefulness of optical densitometry in early diagnosis and follow-up of structural and functional changes in the cornea.