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7 Causes of Cataracts

Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the major factors that result in the development of cataracts. [4] Diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas does not produce insulin or not enough insulin, resulting in an excess of sugar in the blood. There are different variations of this disease, but all can affect the eye. Diabetes can have negative effects on specific parts of the eye, including the retina, vitreous, lens, and optic nerve. People with diabetes mellitus statistically are facing a 60 percent greater risk of developing cataracts.

The lens of the eye gets oxygen and glucose from the aqueous humor, which is the fluid that fills the front of the eye, and the lens has an enzyme that converts glucose into sorbitol. Sorbitol collecting in the lens can affect cells and other proteins, which can make the lens more opaque. If someone doesn’t have control over their glucose levels – such as someone with diabetes – the sugar levels can rise, causing the lens to swell.

Additionally, people with diabetes are not just more likely to develop cataracts, but are likely to develop at a younger age and have them progress faster than people without diabetes. Cataracts are two to five times more frequent in patients with diabetes than patients without diabetes and can significantly impact visual function.