Effect of glycated hemoglobin levels on intraocular pressure in patients with diabetes mellitus

: 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. 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, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Data recorded were age, sex, intraocular pressure by noncontact tonometer and grades of diabetic retinopathy in each eye. 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. : 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.