Ophthalmic manifestations of endocrine disorders—endocrinology and the eye

The estimated global prevalence of DM was 422 million in 2014 (1). According to projections by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this number will continue to rise, and by 2050, one in three adults may have DM (2). Patients with DM have an increased risk of both macro- and micro-vascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke, as well as nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy (1). With regard to the eye, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults under 75 years of age (3). Moreover, the presence of ophthalmic disease, specifically diabetic retinopathy (DR) has significant predictive value for cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with DM, which is why early recognition and treatment of ophthalmic disease is so critical (4)