Ocular Associations of Diabetes Other Than Diabetic Retinopathy

D iabetic retinopathy is the most wellknown ocular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness among people 20–64 years of age in the U.S. (1). Up to 4 million Americans with diabetes, 40 years of age and older, have retinopathy, and nearly 1 million have sight-threatening retinopathy (2). In major clinical trials, tight control of blood glucose and blood pressure has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of retinopathy and associated blindness (3). A range of ocular diseases is also associated with diabetes, which may lead to vision loss. However, some of these ocular conditions may not be familiar to noneye clinicians (4–6). In this review, we aim to highlight the frequencies, clinical presentations, natural histories, and management of these ocular condit ions. Physicians who manage patients with diabetes may benefit from knowledge of these associated conditions and are thus able to ensure adequate and timely referral and treatment. Routine eye screening for retinopathy of individuals with diabetes offers the opportunity to detect these other ocular diseases early, many of which are sight threatening. Physician education remains an important public health strategy in the prevention of vision loss in patients with diabetes.