Totally 80 T2DM patients and 150 non-diabetic controls were consecutively recruited from January to June in 2019. The inclusion criteria were T2DM patients with a controlled and stable blood glucose (fasting blood-glucose <8.3 mmol/L or HbA1c level ≤ 7%), and free of systemic administration or topical use of eyedrops for at least 3 months prior to their initial visit. They were further divided into two subgroups according to the duration of diabetes (<15 vs. ≥15 years). All participants are among Han ethic group and are from eastern China. The exclusion criteria were patients with histories of lacrimal or blepharal diseases, corneal or conjunctival disorders, glaucoma, contact lens wearing, history of eye surgeries or with other systematic diseases other than T2DM.
Among these patients, T2DM and non-diabetic controls who were scheduled for cataract surgeries were further followed up twice: one after 3 days of topical application of 0.5% levofloxacin preoperatively (Cravit, Santen, Japan; three times a day), and the other at 7 days after ceasing all postoperative medications of cataract surgery, including 0.5% levofloxacin three times a day for 2 weeks, 1% Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension (Pred Forte, Allergan, Ireland) three times a day for 2 weeks, and Diclofenac sodium eye drops (Difei, Sinqi, China) three times a day for 4 weeks.
Among these patients, T2DM and non-diabetic controls who were scheduled for cataract surgeries were further followed up twice: one after 3 days of topical application of 0.5% levofloxacin preoperatively (Cravit, Santen, Japan; three times a day), and the other at 7 days after ceasing all postoperative medications of cataract surgery, including 0.5% levofloxacin three times a day for 2 weeks, 1% Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic suspension (Pred Forte, Allergan, Ireland) three times a day for 2 weeks, and Diclofenac sodium eye drops (Difei, Sinqi, China) three times a day for 4 weeks.