The cornea in diabetic patients suffers from cellular dysfunction and dysfunctional repairal mechanisms, which include recurrent erosions, delayed wound healing, ulcers, and edema. In addition and undoubtedly related to epithelial dysfunction, alterations in epithelial basement membrane occur.
The corneal epithelium is the outermost layer that covers the front of the eye; it not only functions as a barrier that blocks the passage of foreign material, but also plays an important role in maintaining high optical quality. The stem cells in the basal layer of the limbal epithelium hold a physiological significance in the renewal and metabolism of corneal epithelium, particularly under stressful situations.