ASSOCIATION OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AND HYPERTENSION WITH CATARACT SUBTYPES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Purpose: To examine whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM II) and hypertension are linked to particular subtypes of cataract.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 61 patients aged 40–85 years who had been advised to undergo phacoemulsification at the Ophthalmology Department of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar, between November 2025 and July 2026, after ethical approval and written informed consent. Cataract type was graded on the slit lamp, and each patient's history of DM II and hypertension was recorded. Data were analysed in SPSS using the chi-square test.

Results: The sample comprised 26 men (42.6%) and 35 women (57.4%). Nuclear cataract was the commonest type, and the commonest systemic condition was the coexistence of DM II and hypertension. DM II alone was uncommon in every cataract group. No statistically significant association was found between cataract type and systemic disease (p = 0.784).

Conclusion: In this sample, the type of cataract was not associated with DM II or hypertension.