Research progress on the pathogenesis of diabetes-related dry eye

Abstract

In recent years, with the further understanding of medical circles on diabetic ocular complications, the ocular surface abnormalities of diabetes has drawn increasing concerns. Nearly 50% of diabetic patients suffer from dry eye symptoms. The main manifestations of diabetes related dry eye were abnormal lacrimal secretion, poor lacrimal stability, decreased corneal sensitivity, persistent corneal epithelial defect and even corneal ulcer, which were mainly related to the changes of structure and function of lacrimal gland, the decrease of goblet cells in conjunctiva, the abnormality of meibomian gland function and the degeneration of corneal nerve caused by diabetes. In this paper, we summarized and analyzed the recent research progress on the effect of diabetes on lacrimal film, corneal innervation and lacrimal gland innervation, and the correlation between oxidative stress, advanced glycation end products and diabetes-related dry eye, to explore the pathogenesis of diabetes-related dry eye and to provide reference for clinical diagnosis, treatment and research.