AIM: To observe the effects of different duration of diabetes on dry eye and ocular surface before cataract surgery.

METHODS: The patients with diabetes and cataract were included from March to August in 2018. According to the duration of diabetes, the patients were divided into three groups(<5a, 5-15a, >15a). Age, sex, break-up time(BUT), Schirmer Ⅰ test, corneal fluorescein cornea staining(FL), palpebral margin staining score, meibomian glands secretion function score, and ocular surface disease score(OSDI)were compared between the three groups.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age and sex between the three groups. There were no significant difference in BUT and Schirmer Ⅰ test and OSDI score among the three groups, but the more duration of diabetes was, the more OSDI score was. FL and the secretion of tarsal gland were significantly different between groups(χ²=8.372, 9.346, P=0.015, 0.009, respectively). There was no significant difference in the shape of palpebral margin(χ²= 0.353, P=0.838).

CONCLUSION: The more duration of diabetes is, more serious the ocular surface and dry eye diseases may be. For the patient with long-term diabetic, more attention should be paid to the eye surface health and perioperative recovery.