Dry Eye Syndrome in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence, Etiology, and Clinical Characteristics

Figure 2

Etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus associated dry eye syndrome. Chronic hyperglycemia, diabetic periphery neuropathy, decreased insulin hormone, microvasculopathy, and systemic hyperosmotic disturbances are risk factors for diabetes-associated dry eye syndrome, which subsequently induce lacrimal function unit and tear film dysfunction and abnormal tear dynamics. Several proteins have been identified to be the contributor to diabetes mellitus associated dry eye syndrome.