Abstract
Aim of the study was to investigate the effect of chronic hyperglycemia as determined by high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with diabetes and to recognize the diabetic patients at high risk of developing glaucoma in a tertiary care hospital in western region of Saudi Arabia.This was a retrospective chart review performed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hospital records of diabetic patients in the department of ophthalmology from August 2015 to June 2020 were collected. Patients diagnosed with glaucoma, using intraocular pressure-lowering medications, or using topical or oral steroids were excluded from the study.Overall, 159 participants were enrolled in the study. A significant association between high HbA1c levels and IOP values was observed. Individuals with HbA1c below 6.5, between 9.6 to 10.5, and over 12.6 had a mean IOP of 15.2 +/- 2.87, 16.6 +/- 5.12, and 19.5 +/- 1.88, respectively (p=0.031). Longer diabetes duration was associated with a higher IOP (p=0.028). Another finding illustrated that female participants had significantly higher IOP compared to males (16.94 +/- 3.25 mm Hg, 15.15 +/- 3.31 mm Hg, p=0.001, respectively). A significant positive association between high HbA1c levels and IOP values was found, which indicates that diabetes and elevated HbA1c are significant contributing factors for elevated IOP. There was a statistically significant higher IOP in females in which further research is needed with prospective and extensive data collection. Accordingly, a regular diabetic eye examination to monitor intraocular pressure is recommended specially to those with uncontrolled diabetes and high HgA1c to reduce ocular morbidity due to glaucoma.