Diabetes mellitus contributes to an earlier and a quicker development of opacities of the lens and worsening of the vision in

affected people, in comparison with healthy people in similar age. The main source of energy in the human lens is glucose,

which is metabolised through the glycolytic process. When the level of glucose increases in blood, its content also increases

in aqueous humour and in the lens. It causes a saturation of the glycolytic process and the activation of the sorbitol pathway

with participation of aldose reductase. The accumulation of sorbitol is responsible for the growth of osmotic pressure inside the

lens, inflow of water and gradual swelling of its fibres. In extreme cases a swelling of the lens can even lead to occurrence of

cataracta intumescens and secondary glaucoma. The primary treatment of cataracta intumescens is to remove lens surgicaly,

preferably after lowering intraocular pressure.

In that report is presented a particular case of such, fulminating course of ophthalmological complications in patient with diabetes mellitus type 1.