AIM: To analyze ocular surface changes and risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).

METHODS: Totally 118 cases of T2DM patients(236 eyes)admitted from May 2017 to May 2018 were selected as T2DM group, and 100 non-T2DM patients(200 eyes)were selected as control group. The patients were given routine ophthalmic testing, Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt), tear film break-up test(BUT), corneal fluorescein staining test(FL)and conjunctive impression cytology. The cases data were collected for univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis so as to analyze the independent risk factors for ocular surface changes in T2DM patients.

RESULTS: The incidence rate of ocular surface changes in T2DM group was significantly higher than that in control group(22.5% vs 7.5%, P<0.05). The SⅠt, BUT and conjunctival goblet cell count in T2DM group were significantly lower than those in control group while the FL and conjunctival squamous metaplasia degree were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05). Univariate analysis results suggested that there were significantly differences between T2DM patients with ocular surface changes and T2DM patients without ocular surface changes in terms of age, disease duration, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), plasma total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c), urea, creatinine(Cr), glomerular filtration rate(GFR)and 24h urinary protein(24h UP)(P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed age, disease duration, TC, TG, LDL-C, HbA1c and Cr were independent risk factors for ocular surface changes in T2DM patients.

CONCLUSION: Ocular surface changes of T2DM patients are more obvious than those of normal people, and T2DM patients have high incidence of ocular surface changes, thus it is necessary to actively correct lipid metabolism disorder and given early prevention for T2DM patients so as to reduce the risk of ocular surface changes.