The Corneal Changes in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a systemic disorder which afects different organs. Ocular complications of the DM are the worldwide leading cause of blindness. The most common complications are diabetic retinopathy, diabetic cataract, neovascular glaucoma. Recently many investigations point out that DM can cause comlications at ocular surface as well. Condition such as decreased corneal sensitivity, dry eye or neurotrophic corneal ulceraction are the main clinical manifestations of the diabetic keratopathy (DK). Untreated, these conditions can lead to serious visual acuity decrease. Pathological processes, based on chronic inflammation, due to chronic hyperglycemia, are the main step in the process of DK development. Adequate treatment of the main disease - DM is an imperative in maintaining the healthy cornea without subjective sensations of diabetic patients.