Research progress of diabetic corneal neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. Its incidence among diabetic patients is more than 50%, and its ocular manifestations include diabetic retinopathy and diabetic corneal neuropathy. By using confocal microscopy, diabetic neuropathy in the cornea has been found to occur earlier than other parts of the body, which helps for early diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment options for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The repair and treatment of nerve damage in diabetic corneal neuropathy has been frequently studied. This review focuses on the research progress of diabetic corneal neuropathy in recent years, and discusses the research findings on corneal nerve injury, anatomical and functional changes, and mechanism of injury and repair. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 630-636).