Psoriasis Doubles Risk of Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: Study Finds
Taiwan: Patients with type 2 diabetes who also have psoriasis face more than double the likelihood of developing diabetic retinopathy compared to their peers without psoriasis, a large population-based study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice has revealed.
The analysis revealed elevated risks across nearly all forms of diabetic eye disease, including vision-threatening and proliferative complications, underscoring the need for proactive screening in this high-risk group.
Researchers led by Ming-Pei Yueh from the Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, examined data from the global TriNetX network to explore whether psoriasis—a chronic inflammatory skin condition—might influence eye health in people with diabetes. Using a retrospective cohort design, the team identified 85,691 adults with type 2 diabetes and psoriasis and matched them by key characteristics to an equal number of participants with diabetes but no psoriasis. All individuals were free of diabetic retinopathy at baseline.
The following were the key findings of the study:
- Patients with type 2 diabetes and psoriasis had more than twice the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (HR 2.11).
- The risk of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher (HR 2.4).
- Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy showed increased risk, including mild (HR 2.0) and moderate forms (HR 2.8).
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a severe sight-threatening stage, had a markedly elevated risk (HR 2.62).
- The likelihood of developing diabetic macular edema was more than doubled (HR 2.3).
- Severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
The investigators point to chronic systemic inflammation as a possible biological link. Psoriasis is known to trigger widespread inflammatory pathways, which may accelerate microvascular damage in the retina when combined with the metabolic stresses of type 2 diabetes. The findings highlight how intertwined dermatologic, endocrine, and ophthalmic health can be, suggesting that routine eye examinations should be prioritized for diabetic patients who also live with psoriasis.
Yueh and colleagues emphasize that their results, drawn from a robust real-world database and supported by propensity-score matching, strengthen the case for heightened clinical vigilance. They recommend that physicians treating people with type 2 diabetes and psoriasis work closely across specialties to monitor ocular health and manage modifiable risk factors. Early detection and timely intervention, they note, remain critical to preventing irreversible vision loss.
"The study adds compelling evidence that psoriasis significantly amplifies the threat of diabetic retinopathy and its sight-threatening complications. For individuals managing both chronic conditions, more frequent retinal screening and coordinated care among dermatologists, endocrinologists, and ophthalmologists may help safeguard vision and improve long-term outcomes," the authors concluded.
Reference:
Yueh, M., Kao, S., Chen, J., Huang, J., Chen, H., & Wu, T. (2025). Psoriasis and risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 112912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2025.112912
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