What Are Cataracts? And How Do They Form?
A cataract forms when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and opaque, instead of remaining clear and transparent. Your diabetic dog can’t see through a cloudy lens, and thus loses his sight. The lens of the eye is normally is a somewhat dehydrated state, with a moisture level of 66 percent, compared to the rest of your dog’s body, which is 98 percent water. As long as nothing happens to upset the delicate balance between water and protein in the eyeball, the lens will remain clear. But if the balance is upset, more water will be absorbed into the lens, which causes the characteristic cloudiness and opacity seen with cataracts. Dogs with diabetes have high blood sugar levels. These high glucose levels affect every organ in the body, including the eyeball. The lens gets its nutrients and moisture from the eyeball. Excess glucose passes into the lens, which absorbs more water in an effort to dilute it. This is what causes cataracts to form, which leads to vision loss. Cataracts in dogs can
