Diabetes and Cataracts: Understanding the Double Risk to Your Vision

16/06/2025

Diabetes and Cataracts: Understanding the Double Risk to Your Vision

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar. While it can impact many organs, its effects on the eyes are often silent and gradual.

It is well-known for increasing the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a condition in which high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels in the retina, potentially leading to vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness. It's also important to note that diabetes raises the risk of developing cataracts, often causing them to form at a younger age and progress more quickly.

In this blog, we'll break down how diabetes and cataracts are connected, how to tell if your blurry vision is from one, the other or both and what you can do to protect your sight.

How does diabetes accelerate cataract formation?

Cataract occurs when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to vision that's blurred, dim, or yellow-tinted. This happens gradually with age, but for people with diabetes, the process can begin much earlier.

When blood glucose level is elevated over time, it affects the composition of the fluid in the eye. Excess sugar gets into the lens, where it gets converted into sorbitol—a sugar alcohol that draws in water and causes the lens to swell and become cloudy.

Oxidative stress and glycation (sugar molecules attaching to proteins in the eye) also contribute to lens opacification.

This combination not only promotes the formation of cataracts but can make them denser and more visually weakening than typical age-related cataracts.

Blurry vision: Is it cataract, diabetes or both?

Cataract typically develops slowly and may not cause noticeable symptoms at first. As they progress, common signs include blurry or cloudy vision, increased sensitivity to light or glare, difficulty seeing at night, faded or yellowed colors, and halos around lights. You may also find yourself needing frequent changes in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription. If left untreated, cataracts can significantly impair daily activities like reading, driving, or recognizing faces

Blurry vision is a common symptom for both diabetes and cataracts, which can make it difficult to determine the root cause. A comprehensive eye exam is the only way to know for sure. Your eye doctor can examine the lens for cataracts and check the retina for diabetic changes. In many cases, both conditions may be contributing to vision problems at the same time. Here's how they differ and overlap:

Vision Symptoms and Likely Causes
 

• Blurry vision that comes and goes – May be caused by fluctuating blood sugar levels

• Gradually worsening blurry or dim vision, especially in bright light – Often due to cataracts

• Colors appearing faded – Likely caused by cataracts

• Spots, floaters, or blank areas in vision – May indicate diabetic retinopathy

• Distorted vision or a central dark spot – Could be a sign of diabetic macular edema

• Difficulty with night vision – Can be caused by both conditions , but more commonly by cataracts

What you can do to protect your vision

Managing diabetes and monitoring your eye health go hand in hand. Here's how to stay ahead of the double risk:

• Keep blood sugar under control. This is the single related most important step in slowing cataract formation and preventing diabetic retinopathy or other conditions.
• Get regular eye exams. If you have diabetes, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year—even if your vision seems to be fine.
• Report changes promptly. Any sudden or noticeable changes in vision should be checked out immediately.
• Consider cataract surgery sooner rather than later. In people with diabetes, cataracts may progress faster. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally safe and effective—even for diabetic patients—and depending on your eye condition, it can dramatically improve your vision.

How does cataract surgery affect diabetic retinopathy?

Cataract surgery is generally safe and effective for people with diabetes, but it requires special attention if DR is present. Inflammation from the surgery can sometimes worsen the retinal condition, especially in those with moderate to severe DR. To reduce risks, eye doctors may recommend pre-surgical retinal evaluations, anti-inflammatory or other treatments, and close post-operative monitoring. With proper care and coordination between specialists, most diabetic patients can have a successful cataract surgery without serious complications

Diabetes can affect the eyes in multiple ways. One of its effects is the accelerated formation of cataracts, which can gradually impair your vision. Cataracts are often found alongside diabetic retinopathy or other eye conditions related to diabetes. With regular monitoring, good blood sugar control, and timely treatment, these issues can be managed effectively. Caring for your eyes is an essential part of overall health, and small, consistent steps today can help protect your vision for years to come

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