To evaluate the prevalence of cataract and associated risk factors in a diabetic type 1 population.181 patients (362 eyes) were evaluated in a case-control study. Cases were classified when cataract was present at the time of the examination. The studied outcomes were the presence of diabetic retinopathy, retinal panphotocoagulation, high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, HDL, LDL, body mass index, creatinine levels, albuminuria, glycosylated hemoglobin and glycemia levels.Cataract was present in 19.9% of the studied patients. The association of the presence of cataract and diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, elevated levels of creatinine, panphotocoagulation and high blood pressure were statistically significant (univariate analysis). After the logistic regression analysis the presence of cataract was significantly associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy.The prevalence of cataract was 19.9% and the presence and severity of the diabetic retinopathy were the main risk factors for its development.
