Diabetic cataracts: mechanisms and management.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with a 5-fold higher prevalence of cataracts, which remains a major cause of blindness in the world. Typical diabetic cataracts contain cortical and/or posterior subcapsular opacities. Adult onset diabetic cataracts also often contain nuclear opacities. Mechanisms of diabetic cataractogenesis have been studied in less detail than those of other diabetic complications. Both animal and human studies support important contribution of increased aldose reductase activity. Surgical extraction is the only cure of diabetic cataract today. An improved understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms, together with finding effective therapeutic agents, remain highest priority for diabetic cataract-related research and pharmaceutical development.
Obrosova
Irina G
IG
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA. obrosoig@pbrc.edu
Chung
Stephen S M
SS
Kador
Peter F
PF
D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors