Abnormal Anterior Corneal Morphology in Diabetes Observed Using In Vivo Laser-scanning Confocal Microscopy

Abstract

Purpose To assess if diabetes alters corneal epithelial, anterior stromal and subbasal nerve plexus morphology and to determine the associations between these and other clinical variables. Methods A cohort of 78 participants with diabetes (39 with Type 1 and 39 with Type 2 diabetes) and 29 age-matched healthy controls underwent laser-scanning confocal microscopy of the central cornea. Intermediate cell density (ICD), basal cell density (BCD), anterior stromal cell density (ASCD), corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) and nerve fiber length (CNFL) were quantified. Results Compared with controls, participants with diabetes showed reduced ICD (6097 ± 669 vs. 5548 ± 669 no/mm2, P .06). Multiple regression analysis showed that ICD and BCD were inversely associated with the diabetes duration and diastolic blood pressure (P