[Confocal microscopy of the cornea in patients with diabetes]

To investigate with confocal microscopy the cornea of diabetics type I and II.

Thirty eyes of 10 patients with diabetes mellitus type I, 10 with d.m. type II, and 10 of controls were entered in the study. Eyes with corneal or anterior segments pathologies were excluded. In-vivo corneal morphology was studied using a confocal microscope.

Cell density of basal epithelial cells, anterior stromal keratocytes, and endothelial cells did not differ significantly between the groups. In the diabetic groups polymorphy of both epithelial and endothelial cells was noted. Abnormal stromal nerves were also noted in 2 cases.

Our findings support previous studies on corneal epithelial and endothelial morphology in diabetic patients. The corneal stroma appears to be affected only in its nerves, although in few cases.