The influence of type-2 diabetes on cataract and their shared genetic basis through relevant genome-wide association studies

Abstract

Cataract in type-2 diabetes (T2D) patients is a secondary complication and one of the leading causes of vision loss next to diabetic retinopathy. Various factors such as age, gender, diabetes duration, HbA1c, BMI and genetics contribute towards cataractogenesis. The genetic predisposition of patients with T2D to develop cataract remains unanswered. It is important to examine the underlying genetic etiology of cataract in T2D through large-scale genetic studies. Since there have been only a handful of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on T2D-influenced cataract, multiple studies from various ethnicities are warranted to substantiate if T2D truly influences the development of cataract. This study provides an overview of possible mechanisms and factors that trigger the development of cataract in T2D patients, relevant GWAS and the role of genes associated with T2D-associated cataract.