Effect of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Corneal Biomechanical Characteristics

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects the corneal biomechanical parameters. Material-Method: Thirty-eight pregnant women, newly diagnosed with GDM and, age- and gestational age-matched 34 healthy pregnant females were enrolled in the study. The right eye of the participants was examined. The corneal parameters including corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg), and the corneal compensated IOP (IOPcc), obtained by The Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) device were compared statistically. Results: The mean and gestational age of the participants was 30.71  ±5.09 years,  25.95  ±1.56 weeks and 29.97  ±4.10 years, 25.76  ±1.30 weeks in pregnant females with GDM and healthy pregnant females, respectively. No significant differences in age (p=0.502) or gestational age (p=0.594) were noted. The values of CH, CRF, IOPg, and IOPcc were determined to be higher in pregnant females with GDM as compared to that in healthy pregnant females. However, there was no statistically significant difference in any other parameter (p=0.183, p=0.303, p=0.732 and p=0.330, respectively). Conclusions: Short-term hyperglycemia does not affect the corneal biomechanical parameters.