Abstract: With the alterations of people’s living habits and environment, dry eye has become one of the most common diseases in ophthalmic clinic. Diabetes mellitus can cause a variety of ophthalmic complications, such as cataract and diabetic retinopathy. Recently, some studies show that there is higher incidence of dry eye in hyperglycemia and diabetic patients, and diabetes is one of the important risk factors for dry eye. However, the relevant mechanisms and clinical features of diabetic dry eye are not fully understood, and most studies only focus on patients with dry eyes. In this review, we discuss the prevalence, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, prevention and treatment for diabetes-related dry eye.

Key words: xerophthalmia, diabetes complications, review, dry eye