What are the causes of cataracts?

Usually age: If you live long enough, you will get cataracts--not everyone is bothered by cataracts or needs surgery to remove them. Cataracts can also be present at birth or may be caused by certain medical conditions, like diabetes. In addition, a cataract may be caused by an injury or as a side effect of other eye surgery.

Age Causes: A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. Normal eye lenses are completely transparent, allowing light to pass freely to the back of the eye. Once a cataract starts to develop, your eye’s lens will gradually become more opaque, causing less light to reach your retina. Around 50% of americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have cataracts.

Causes of Cataracts: Cataracts (a white lens change) is most often due to or made worse by (most common first): aging, genetics predisposition, excessive sun exposure, smoking, diabetes, steroid medication, previous trauma, inflammation, infection in the eye causing inflammation; previous intraocular eye surgery; other genetic conditions; can be congenital as well.