https://doi.org/10.30702/Ophthalmology31032021-12.1.67-72/008.64
UDC 617.713-002-022.7:616.379-008.64

Zavoloka O. V.

Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Abstract
The aim. To identify the features of corneal sensitivity of the sick and the fellow eye in bacterial keratitis patients with or without diabetes mellitus.
Materials and methods. The analysis was performed on the basis of survey data of 62 type 1 diabetes patients with bacterial keratitis and 43 nondiabetic control patients with bacterial keratitis. The examination was performed at the first visit. In addition to standard ophthalmic examination, the patients underwent fluorescein test, OCT of the anterior segment of the eye, non-contact corneal aesthesiometry.
Results and discussion. The average corneal sensitivity threshold in diabetic patients with bacterial keratitis at the first visit at all air flow temperatures exceeded the corresponding indicators in nondiabetic patients of the control group: by 33.5% at an air temperature of 5 °C, by 30.6% at 15 °C, by 28.8% at 20 °C, by 27% at 30 °C, and by 26.1% at 40 °C (p<0.05). The average corneal sensitivity threshold at a temperature of 20 °C in the fellow eye in diabetic patients with bacterial keratitis exceeded that in nondiabetic patients with bacterial keratitis of the control group by 32.9 % (p<0.05).
Conclusions. Corneal sensitivity of the sick and fellow eye in patients with bacterial keratitis depends on the presence of diabetes mellitus. The average threshold of corneal sensitivity of the sick and fellow eye in diabetic patients with bacterial keratitis at the first visit exceeds the corresponding values in nondiabetic patients with bacterial keratitis.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, bacterial keratitis, corneal sensitivity.