DOC News January 1, 2008
Volume 5 Number 1 p. 14
© 2008 American Diabetes Association
Diabetes Patients Prone to Dry Eye, Corneal Problems
It is well established that people with diabetes are at increased risk for
contracting eye diseases, such as retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. A
recent study suggests diabetes patients are also more likely to develop
corneal lesions or other related problems of the eye, possibly because they
produce fewer tears and have less sensitive corneas than people who don't have
the disease.
A group of researchers studied tear production and corneal sensitivity in
25 people with type 2 diabetes and retinopathy and 25 healthy people without
diabetes. The results revealed that people with diabetes had much lower tear
production and notably less sensitive corneas than people without
diabetes.
Investigators propose that the reduced tear production may be due to
diabetes-related neuropathy. Clinicians should be aware that reduced tear
production and a less-sensitive cornea may contribute to corneal lesions and
other eye diseases in people with diabetes, the researchers advise.
Cousen P, Cackett P, Bennett H, et al.: Tear production and
corneal sensitivity in diabetes. J Diabetes
Complications 21:371-373, 2007.[Medline]
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