[Cataract types in diabetics and non-diabetics: a densitometric study with the Topcon-Scheimpflug camera]

The purpose of this study was to compare types of cataract which appear in patients with the cataractogenous risk factor diabetes mellitus type II and in non-diabetics.

The opaque lenses of 46 diabetics (group I) and 83 non-diabetics (group II) in the age range of 55-93 years, who had to undergo a cataract operation, were documented using the Topcon-Scheimpflug camera SL-45 followed by densitometric analysis.

Although there was no significant difference relating to the metabolic disorder, we found a higher percentage of opacity of the deeper anterior (I = 8.7 % II = 3.6 %) as well as in the anterior and posterior cortex (I = 13.0 % II = 8.4 %) comparing diabetics and non-diabetics.

Diabetics revealed a higher percentage of opacity of the area of the cortex than non-diabetics without detecting any significance. Thereby, we could show positive associations between the existence of diabetes mellitus type II and a higher risk of opacities of the cortex.