Lay summary
Our sense of sight depends on the ability of the lens to maintain its transparent and refractive properties. The energy required to maintain these optical properties is predominantly generated by the metabolism of glucose. Diabetics suffer from poor blood glucose regulation, which can lead to the formation of cortical cataract. With the increasing incidence of diabetes, there is an urgent need to increase our understanding of lens glucose uptake, metabolism, and cell volume regulation specifically in humans. Using advanced imaging approaches, this research will investigate the role of a new lens glucose transporter, measure metabolite and protein changes in diabetic cataract patient samples, and utilise these combined findings to determine the effects of high glucose on human lens proteins that control cell volume and metabolism. This work will further our understanding of human diabetic cataract formation and contribute to novel approaches to decrease its incidence.