AIM: To explore the effects of vitreoretinal surgery in diabetics and non-diabetic patients on corneal endothelial cell density and morphology.

METHODS:Sixty patients with diabetes(diabetic group)and 60 non-diabetic patients(control group)was collected, of which 30 cases of diabetic group and 30 cases in the control group underwent vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade surgery, 30 cases of diabetic patients and 30 control patients(lenticular vitreoretinal combined with silicone oil tamponade surgery). To detect the corneal endothelial cell density(CD), coefficient of variation of endothelial cell area(CV), percentage of hexagonal cells(RHC)of two groups of patients 1 day before surgery and three months after surgery. The differences of two groups were compared before and after surgery in corneal endothelial cell changes.

RESULTS: After vitrectomy combined with silicone oil surgery, there were significant differences on the coefficient of variation of corneal endothelial cells and the percentage of hexagonal cells between the diabetic and control groups. In the diabetic and control groups, obvious differences were also found in corneal endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation and the percentage of hexagonal cells after lenticular vitreoretinal combined with silicone oil tamponade surgery. The different values for groups of diabetic and non-diabetic all were statistically significant in corneal endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation and the percentage of hexagonal cells before and after surgery.

CONCLUSION: The effects of vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade surgery on cornea endothelial cell were mainly reflected on changes of corneal topography. Compared with the non-diabetic group, the changes in corneal endothelial cell shape and destiny of diabetic patients underwent lenticular vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade surgery are more evidently. Therefore, the strict examination of preoperative corneal endothelial cell has important significant for diabetic patients postoperative visual recovery.