Cataract and diabetes is a common issue for people who have the disease. Once a person reaches the age of 80, they are much more likely to develop a cataract. In fact, according to the National Eye Institute, more than half of all adults in this age group either have a cataract or have had surgery to remove a cataract. Although cataracts are most likely to develop with age, diabetes increases the chances that a person will develop a diabetes cataract.
A cataract occurs when the eye’s lens becomes blurred, negatively affecting a person’s vision. Cataract and diabetes may affect both eyes, but sometimes a diabetes cataract will occur in just one eye. One popular misassumption about diabetes and cataract is that they can spread from one eye to the other. A diabetes cataract in one eye will not cause one to develop in the other eye. If a diabetes cataract does develop in both eyes, it is never the result of an existing cataract in the opposite eye.
Although a cataract and diabetes are commonly associated with each other, there are several other things that can cause a cataract. They can form after a surgery or other eye-related problem. They are sometimes linked to steroid use. Eye injuries can also cause the development of a cataract, even if it doesn’t happen until years later. Babies are sometimes born with cataracts, or develop them in childhood. Exposure to some types of radiation can also cause cataracts to develop on the eye.
Diabetes and Cataract Surgery
Through the years, many people have opted to receive a surgical procedure to remove cataracts. Diabetes and cataract surgery is a viable option in many cases. A diabetes cataract can be quite a nuisance, causing cloudy or blurry vision and making colors seem faded. A cataract and diabetes can also cause the appearance of a glare or halo coming off of lights. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. Poor night vision, double vision and frequent eye prescription changes are other problems that can be the result of cataract and diabetes.
Because of these issues, many people will choose to have surgery. Diabetes and cataract surgery are common for people who want to put a stop to such symptoms. There are two major types of cataract surgery. Phaco surgery includes making a small incision on the side of the eye’s surface. A doctor then inserts a tiny probe into the eye that emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the eye’s lens so that the diabetes cataract can be removed by suction. Extracapsular surgery involves making a longer incision on the side of the cornea, making it possible to remove the cloudy core of the lens in one piece.
