Ocular manifestations of diabetes mellitus: a general overview

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is on the rise – according to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 400 million people worldwide are affected. Elevated blood sugar levels pose a risk for the lives of these patients as well as a serious deterioration in their quality of life. Apart from diabetic retinopathy, which poses an immediate risk to vision, virtually any part of the visual-sensory system can be irreversibly damaged. The objective of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of different eye complications in patients with type two diabetes and to propose guidelines for early diagnosis, clinical evaluation and treatment. Contingent and Methods: A total of 1654 adult patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Ophthalmology in the Alexandrovska Hospital were clinically evaluated including OCT scanning and visual field testing. Results: Approximately 13% of the patients (212) had type two diabetes as a concomitant disease. The most common eye manifestation of diabetes was cataract found in 73% of the patients. Other ocular manifestations of diabetes included primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), secondary glaucoma, retinopathy and vitreal bleeding, retinal detachment, ischemic optic neuropathy, oculomotor dysfunction and eye-lid inflammation. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus bears a significant risk for ocular complications and visual disability. The disease can affect any part of the visual system ‒ the sensory, the oculomotor and the adjacent tissues (eyelids and tear production and outflow). Patients with diabetes require regular follow up and timely intervention to prevent irreversible damage to the visual system.