The aim of the thesis is to analyse the corneal microstructural changes in young type 1 diabetic patients, with or without diabetic retinopathy. There was a case group of 28 people and a control group of 17 people.The corneal changes were assessed using the confocal microscope. Our results showed significant corneal changes that can be picked up by confocal microscopy, at an early stage of diabetic eye complications. It will therefore be of great benefit to include the confocal microscopic examination, in the routine ophthalmological examinations, used in the follow up of diabetic patients.