Zhou Ting, Lee Allie, Lo Amy Cheuk Yin, Kwok Jeremy Sze Wai John
Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Front Pharmacol. 2022 Feb 23;13:816062. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.816062. eCollection 2022.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global public health problem that can cause complications such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. Besides the reporting of reduction in corneal nerve density and decrease in corneal sensitivity in diabetic patients, there may be a subsequent result in delayed corneal wound healing and increased corneal infections. Despite being a potential cause of blindness, these corneal nerve changes have not gained enough attention. It has been proposed that corneal nerve changes may be an indicator for diabetic neuropathy, which can provide a window for early diagnosis and treatment. In this review, the authors aimed to give an overview of the relationship between corneal nerves and diabetic neuropathy as well as the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of corneal nerve fiber changes caused by DM for improved prediction and prevention of diabetic neuropathy. In addition, the authors summarized current and novel therapeutic methods for delayed corneal wound healing, nerve protection and regeneration in the diabetic cornea.
糖尿病（DM）是一个重大的全球公共卫生问题，可导致糖尿病视网膜病变、糖尿病神经病变和糖尿病肾病等并发症。除了有报道称糖尿病患者角膜神经密度降低和角膜敏感性下降外，随后还可能导致角膜伤口愈合延迟和角膜感染增加。尽管这些角膜神经变化是导致失明的一个潜在原因，但尚未得到足够的关注。有人提出，角膜神经变化可能是糖尿病神经病变的一个指标，可为早期诊断和治疗提供一个窗口。在这篇综述中，作者旨在概述角膜神经与糖尿病神经病变之间的关系，以及糖尿病引起的角膜神经纤维变化的潜在病理生理机制，以改善糖尿病神经病变的预测和预防。此外，作者总结了目前用于治疗糖尿病角膜伤口愈合延迟、神经保护和再生的新方法。
