Corneal biomechanical properties in children with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose. To compare the biomechanical properties of corneas in eyes of children with diabetes mellitus and in eyes of children without diabetes mellitus.
Methods. In this prospective, comparative, and cross-sectional study, 46 patients with diabetes mellitus (study group) and 50 healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled. The corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were measured in children with and without diabetes using the Ocular Response Analyzer. Differences in the corneal biomechanical properties were determined using an independent-samples t test. Correlations between ocular and diabetic parameters were also evaluated.
Results. Mean CH was 12.3±1.3 (SD) mmHg and 12.5±1.5 mmHg and the mean CRF was 12.4±1.7 mmHg and 11.9±1.5 mmHg in the diabetic and control groups, respectively (p>0.05). Corneal hysteresis and CRF were not correlated with fasting glucose level, HbA1c, age, or duration of diabetes.
Conclusions. The findings indicate that diabetes mellitus does not affect corneal biomechanical parameters such as CH and CRF in children. In addition, CH and CRF are not affected by fasting glucose level, HbA1c, age, or duration of diabetes.