AIM: To examine the integrity of the ocular surfaces of subjects with and without diabetes with no conjunctival and dry eye signs and symptoms and compare conjunctival impression cytology findings in diabetics with non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.METHODS: Conjunctival impression cytology was performed on 43 eyes of 43 subjects with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 42 eyes of 42 subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and 30 eyes of 30 control subjects. Impression cytology specimens of each group were graded and scored in the range 0-3 according to Nelson’s method.RESULTS: There were 45 (52.9%) women and 40 (47.1%) men. The mean age of the patients was 59.6±9.3y (range, 43-76y) in NPDR group and 58.0±8.8y (range, 41-85y) in PDR group. Cases with NPDR and PDR showed statistically significant higher impression cytology scores than control group (P<0.05). There was no difference between the NPDR and PDR patients for impression cytology grading scores.CONCLUSION: It is determined that impression cytology grades are altered in patients with NPDR and PDR. Consequently, we suggest that there might be an association between the impression cytology grading scores and the severity of diabetic retinopathy