The effect of diabetes mellitus and diabetic therapy on cataract formation.

A study of diabetic and nondiabetic subjects was performed to evaluate the possible association of diabetes mellitus with cataract formation. Parameters investigated included cataract incidence and type model of diabetic therapy, degree of diabetic control, duration of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity. Diabetes mellitus was found to be correlated with posterior subcapsular cataract formation, as was duration of diabetic disease. Race, degree of metabolic control, and age of onset of disease did not appear to be correlated with cataract formation. Oral hypoglycemic agent therapy was significantly associated with posterior subcapsular cataract formation. The African variant of G-6-PD deficiency appeared to protect against cataract formation in diabetic patients. The most important overall factor in cataractogenesis proved to be age. Posterior subcapsular cataracts were associated with corticosteroid therapy, presence of diabetes mellitus, and oral hypoglycemic agent therapy.