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Cataract is the opacification of the lens inside the eye, located behind
the iris (the colored part of the eye).
The senile form of cataract occurs as an ageing process with the first
signs at the age of 65-70 years. In diabetic patients the opacification
of the lens appears earlier and has a more rapid development. Very
often the type of cataract is different with the opacification more
prominent in the posterior segment of the lens and is called posterior
subcapsular lens opacity. Apart from blurriness, it causes difficulty
with light and near vision (reading). As in all types of cataract, the
therapy is the surgical removal of the cataract and the implantation
of an artificial lens.
Early appearance of the Cataract
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that increase the intraocular
pressure (IOP) above the ‘normal’ level and the threshold that the
optic nerve can withstand. If untreated, glaucoma can destroy the
optic nerve and result in profound loss of vision.
Diabetes increases the danger of primary open-angle glaucoma. Due
to the fact that open-angle glaucoma does not cause any symptoms,
such as pain or redness, diabetic patients must check their intraocular
pressure and the state of their optic nerve more regularly, compared
to the rest of the population. In addition, diabetes is responsible for
the rare but very dangerous neovascular glaucoma.
In this situation, the neovascularization caused by diabetes in the
microcirculation of the eye, produces new vessels and neovascular
membranes in the iris (the colored part of the eye) which block
the angle (drainage system) of the eye, resulting in raised IOP and
damage to the optic nerve.
Increased Danger of Glaucoma
Other Consequences of Diabetes
in the Eye
The surgical microscope is also equipped with an OCT, which
recognizes in great detail structures that could otherwise not be
seen. As a consequence, the surgeon can define more easily the
boundaries between new vessels and the retina, achieving the best
possible surgical results.
