Corneal endothelial cell morphometry and corneal thickness in diabetic contact lens wearers

Purpose. To assess corneal endothelial cell morphometry and corneal thickness in diabetic patients who wear contact lenses. Methods. Images of the central corneal endothelium were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively and corneal thickness was measured in a group of diabetic patients (type 1, N = 26; type 2, N = 4) who wear soft contact lenses and in a group of nondiabetic age-matched control subjects who were also contact lens wearers. Results. Endothelial cell characteristics and corneal thickness values were similar for the two groups (p > 0.05). Four of the diabetic patients (and none of the nondiabetic patients) displayed folds in the endothelial mosaic. Conclusions. The morphometry of corneal endothelial cells and central corneal thickness values in diabetic patients who wear soft contact lenses were not appreciably different from those found in lens-wearing control subjects.