Does diabetes cause cataracts? Diabetes does not guarantee them, but it makes them more likely and tends to bring them on at a younger age. The National Eye Institute (NEI) says diabetes makes you 2 to 5 times more likely to develop cataracts, while the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) say about twice. Researchers think high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lens of the eye.
Key takeaways
- Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's lens. Diabetes raises the chance of getting them and can bring them on earlier.
- Sources put the added risk at about twice (NIDDK, AAO) or 2 to 5 times (NEI). The numbers differ, but the direction is the same.
- Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. NEI says 9 out of 10 people who have it see better afterward.
- With diabetes, eye doctors also check the retina before and after surgery, because swelling can follow the operation.
- A yearly dilated eye exam is how cataracts, retinopathy, and glaucoma get found.
Diabetes and Cataracts: The Short Answer
- Higher risk, not certainty. NIDDK says people with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts and can develop them at an earlier age.
- Blood sugar is a suspected cause. NIDDK and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both say high blood sugar can lead to deposits in the lens.
- Cataracts can progress faster. AAO and MedlinePlus say cataracts develop at a younger age and progress faster in adults with diabetes.
- Early cataracts can be managed. Brighter light, anti-glare sunglasses, and updated glasses can help before surgery is needed.
- Surgery has a diabetes-specific checklist. Your eye doctor will look at retinal health before and after.
Why Diabetes Raises the Risk of Cataracts
NEI explains that most cataracts come from normal changes with age. Around age 40, proteins in the lens begin to break down and clump together, and that clump makes a cloudy area that can grow over time.
Diabetes appears to speed that process. NIDDK says researchers think high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lenses. AAO describes it as a build-up of cells and proteins that makes the lens cloudy, and says maintaining strict control of blood glucose levels may help delay the onset of cataracts. "May help delay" is the careful wording: no source says blood sugar control prevents cataracts.
How Much Higher Is the Risk?
The sources do not use the same number, so here is each one in its own words.
| Source | What it says about cataracts and diabetes |
|---|---|
| NEI | 2 to 5 times more likely to develop cataracts, and more likely at a younger age |
| NIDDK | Chances of cataracts or glaucoma are about twice those of someone without diabetes |
| AAO | Twice as likely, more likely at a younger age, and faster progression |
| MedlinePlus | More likely to develop cataracts younger and faster |
Your own risk depends on more than diabetes. Age, smoking, sun exposure, and other health conditions also count, so these figures describe groups of people and cannot predict what will happen to you.
Other Things That Raise Cataract Risk
NEI lists several risk factors besides diabetes: getting older, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, a family history of cataracts, an eye injury, eye surgery or radiation to the upper body, a lot of time in the sun, and taking steroid medicines. CDC adds high blood pressure and obesity to its list for people with diabetes.
Some of these overlap with diabetes care. Steroid medicines, for example, can raise blood sugar, so if you take one, tell both your eye doctor and your care team. Our guide on medicines that raise blood sugar explains the wider picture.
Cataract Symptoms to Watch For
You might not have symptoms at first. NEI says that as a cataract grows, you may notice:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Faded colors
- Trouble seeing at night
- Lamps, sunlight, or headlights that seem too bright
- A halo around lights
- Double vision, which can go away as the cataract gets bigger
- Frequent changes to your glasses or contact lens prescription
NEI points out that these can also be signs of other eye problems. For people with diabetes, blur can come from short-term glucose swings, diabetic macular edema, or retinopathy as well. Our guide to blurry vision and diabetes shows how to tell what to bring to an eye doctor.
How Cataracts Are Found
An eye doctor can check for cataracts as part of a dilated eye exam, which NEI describes as simple and painless: drops widen the pupil, and the doctor examines the lens and the rest of the eye. NEI recommends that people age 60 and older get a dilated exam every 1 to 2 years. If you have diabetes, your own schedule may call for more. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says adults with type 2 diabetes should have a dilated exam at diagnosis and at least yearly once any retinopathy is present. Our guide to how often diabetics should get an eye exam covers timing in detail.
Managing an Early Cataract
CDC and NEI both say you usually do not have to have surgery right away. NEI suggests these early steps:
- Use brighter lights at home or work.
- Wear anti-glare sunglasses.
- Use magnifying lenses for reading and other activities.
- Ask about a new glasses or contact lens prescription, which can help you see better early on.
NEI adds that most people do not need to rush into surgery and that waiting usually will not harm your eyes or make surgery more difficult later. That statement is about cataracts alone. With diabetes, your eye doctor is also watching the retina, so keep your regular dilated exams while you wait.
Cataract Surgery When You Have Diabetes
NEI says cataract surgery replaces the clouded lens with an artificial lens, is very safe, and that 9 out of 10 people who have it see better afterward. Diabetes adds a few points to discuss with your surgeon:
| Topic | What AAO and NIDDK say |
|---|---|
| Swelling in the retina | People with diabetes have a higher risk of macular edema after cataract surgery, especially with diabetic retinopathy (AAO) |
| Retina check first | Your ophthalmologist may want a retinal specialist to check you before surgery and may suggest pre-treatment such as steroid or anti-VEGF injections (AAO) |
| Lens choices | Choices may be more limited. Multifocal lenses could reduce contrast sensitivity, and toric lenses may be less suitable if retinopathy could change your vision over time (AAO) |
| Glaucoma | If you also have glaucoma, the risk of raised eye pressure after surgery is higher (AAO) |
| Your results | Vision after surgery may depend on treating any damage from retinopathy or macular edema. You may need a new glasses prescription after healing (NIDDK) |
Whether and when surgery is right for you, and which lens, is a decision for you and your surgeon. Our guides explain what diabetic macular edema is and whether diabetes causes glaucoma.
Everyday Steps That May Protect Your Lenses
No step can guarantee you will avoid cataracts, but NEI and CDC list habits that lower risk factors:
- Protect your eyes from the sun. NEI says to wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim.
- Wear protective eyewear. NEI suggests it for power tools and some sports to avoid accidental injury.
- Quit smoking. CDC says quitting lowers your risk for diabetes-related eye diseases.
- Choose eye-healthy foods. NEI lists fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains.
- Keep your numbers on track. CDC points to blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Our overview of how diabetes affects the eyes shows how these habits support the rest of your eye health.
Questions to Ask Your Care Team
- Do you see any signs of a cataract at my dilated exam?
- How often should my lenses and retina be checked?
- If surgery comes up, should a retina specialist look at my eyes first?
- Which lens options make sense given my retina?
- Does any medicine I take, such as a steroid, affect my eyes or my blood sugar?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does diabetes cause cataracts?
Diabetes makes cataracts more likely and tends to bring them on earlier, but it does not cause them in everyone. NIDDK says people with diabetes can develop cataracts at an earlier age, and researchers think high glucose levels cause deposits to build up in the lenses.
How much more likely are cataracts with diabetes?
It depends on the source. NEI says 2 to 5 times more likely, while NIDDK and AAO say about twice. Your own risk also depends on age, smoking, sun exposure, and other factors.
Can cataracts be treated without surgery?
Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract, according to NEI. Early on, brighter lights, anti-glare sunglasses, magnifying lenses, and a new glasses prescription can help you see better.
Is cataract surgery safe if you have diabetes?
NEI calls cataract surgery very safe, with 9 out of 10 people seeing better afterward. AAO adds that people with diabetes have a higher risk of retinal swelling afterward, especially with diabetic retinopathy, so your surgeon may involve a retina specialist beforehand.
Can controlling blood sugar prevent cataracts?
No source says it prevents them. AAO says maintaining strict control of blood glucose levels may help delay the onset of cataracts. Ask your care team what targets fit you.
What are the first signs of a cataract?
You may not notice anything at first. As a cataract grows, NEI says vision can become cloudy or blurry, colors can look faded, night vision can get worse, and lights can seem too bright or show halos.
References
- National Eye Institute. "Cataracts." Accessed October 2026.
- National Eye Institute. "Diabetic Retinopathy." Accessed October 2026.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. "Diabetic Eye Disease." Accessed October 2026.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. "How Diabetes Affects Your Eye Care." Accessed October 2026.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Surprising Facts About Diabetes and Your Eyes." Accessed October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Vision Loss and Diabetes." Accessed October 2026.
- MedlinePlus. "Diabetic Eye Problems." Accessed October 2026.
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes. "12. Retinopathy, Neuropathy, and Foot Care: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026." Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl. 1):S261–S276. Accessed October 2026.
Next Steps
Write down any changes in glare, night vision, or color that you notice, and bring the list, along with every medicine you take, to your next dilated eye exam.
For adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who want lifestyle education alongside clinical care, the Done With Diabetes™ program, built around lifestyle changes for type 2 diabetes, organizes daily learning about meals, movement, sleep, and stress. It does not diagnose or treat eye conditions or diabetes, interpret test results, change medicines, or replace your care team or your eye doctor.