A cataract generally causes neither eye irritation nor pain, but it is the most common cause of blindness in the world. Although anyone can get a cataract, people with diabetes are especially prone to it and other eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Why Are People With Diabetes Prone to Cataracts?
A person with diabetes can develop a cataract at an early age, and the condition is likely to progress more rapidly in people who have diabetes than in people who don’t. This is because high blood sugar in diabetes can cause changes in your eye, such as swelling or clouding of the lens, which can affect your ability to see. Fortunately, a cataract is treatable with surgery.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract is a condition in which the lens of your eye turns cloudy, preventing sufficient light from entering your eye, therefore reducing vision. Eventually, this deterioration in vision will interfere with your daily activities, such as reading or driving a car (particularly at night).
“Most cataracts develop slowly and you may not notice it in the earlier stages of the condition. However, your vision will be affected as the clouding progresses,” said Associate Professor Chee Soon Phaik, Senior Consultant and Head, Cataract Service, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), a member of the SingHealth group.
Read on to find out about the symptoms and risk factors of cataracts.
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