Effect of Glycated Hemoglobin Levels on intraocular pressure in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

• Dr KIRTANA SURESH,*  
• Dr PALLAVI B ACHARLU,  
• Dr SUJATHA VIJAYALEKSHMI,  
• Dr VIJAY KUMAR SRIVASTAVA

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effect of chronic hyperglycemia as determined by high glycated hemoglobin on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with diabetes & to recognize the patients at high risk of developing glaucoma. Methods:100 patients (n=200 eyes) of age 40 years and above were studied in five groups. They were grouped as diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy, mild/moderate/ severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Data recorded were age, sex, intraocular pressure by noncontact tonometer and grades of diabetic retinopathy in each eye. Results: Mean IOP was found to be 15±2.81mmHg in patients with HbA1c levels between 6-8%, 14.81±2.63 mmHg in patients with HbA1c levels between 8-10% and 17.423±3.05 mmHg in patients with HbA1c more than 10%. Out of 100 patients, a total of 16 patients had IOP more than 20mmHg in one or both the eyes. The Pearson correlation between HbA1c and IOP was 0.305, with a p value of 0.001 indicating statistical significance. Additionally, it has been found that the correlation between HbA1c levels and IOP is non-linear. Conclusions: Our results showed that hyperglycemic levels as determined by increased HbA1c levels were found to be associated with increased IOP in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Keywords

Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, Diabetes.,intraocular pressure