Studies on Conjunctival vessel morphology in diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus is a disease associated with both micro and macro-vascular angiopathy. The classical example is the manifestation seen in the retinal vessels. Diabetes is also associated with loss of capillaries and macro-vessel dilatation in the conjunctiva, similar to well-known vessel changes in the retina. The studies conducted on the conjunctival vessel in diabetic patients clearly demonstrate macrovesseldilation associated with diabetes may result in vessel engorgement and straightening, especially among those with longer duration of disease. Increased tortuosity associated with diabetes among conjunctival capillaries mirrors established vessel changes observed in the retina. Evaluation of conjunctivalangiopathy associated with diabetes may help in detecting changes in the retina more easily, maybe earlier even by para-clinical workers