Much of the prior work documenting the impact of smoking on health did not discuss separately results on subsets

of individuals with diabetes, suggesting the identified risks are at least equivalent to those found in the general population. Other studies of individuals with diabetes consistently found a heightened risk of morbidity and premature death associated with the development of macrovascular complications among smokers. The cardiovascular burden of diabetes, especially in combination with smoking, has not been effectively communicated to people with diabetes or to health care providers, and there is little evidence that this risk factor is being addressed as consistently and comprehensively as its importance requires. Smoking is also related to the premature development of microvascular complications of diabetes and may even have a role in the development of type 2 diabetes !".

Smoking boosts a person's risk of developing cataracts, an opacity in the lens of the eye. The data suggest that smoking causes 20 percent of all cataract cases. Statistical analyses revealed that men who reported smoking at least a pack (20 cigarettes per day significantly greater risk of cataracts than did men who had never smoked. Smokers faced an estimated 200 percent increased risk of developing a posterior sub capsular cataract, and an estimated !00 percent increased risk of nuclear sclerosis cataract, a less serious form in which the opacity occurs in the center of the lens. Smoking is linked with macular degeneration "!#$. %ypotheses include the suppression of antio&idants by tobacco smoke and impairment of blood circulation in the eye. 'iets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are high in antio&idants such as vitamin ( and lutein, protects against cataract formation "!)$. The association between diabetes complications and smoking is well established. #igarette smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease in type 2 diabetes patients $!!%. Smoking and diabetes interact to ncrease the risk of cardiovascular disease nearly !& times more than either smoking or diabetes alone $!2%. The interaction of these two risk factors appears to be much greater than their additive effect.

recent Korean study among type 2 diabetics showed that advanced age is not a risk factor of cataracts, but females are more common in the cataracts group than the control group [ 36].

Review Article

Open Access

elationship between !ataract and "etabolic #yndrome among $frican %ype 2 &iabetics
Mvitu Muaka M', Longo-Mbenza B2* and Nkondi Mbadi A Nsungu J3
'&epartment of (phthalmology, )niversity of Kinshasa, & !ongo, #outh $frica