Cataracts remain the first or second leading cause of blindness in all world regions. In the diabetic population, cataracts not only have a 3-5 times higher incidence than in the healthy population but also affect people at a younger age. In patients with type 1 diabetes, cataracts occur on average 20 years earlier than in the non-diabetic population. In addition, the risk of developing cataracts increases with the duration of diabetes and poor metabolic control. A better understanding of the mechanisms leading to the formation of diabetic cataracts enables more effective treatment and a holistic approach to the patient.
Keywords: autophagy lysosomal pathway; cataract; diabetes; oxidative stress; sorbitol pathway.