What Causes Eye Cataracts?

Most cases of eye cataracts are related to aging. According to the National Eye Institute, more than half of all Americans will have them by the time they reach 80 years of age.

Cataracts and Age

From the time someone turns 40, cataracts start becoming more common, but they usually are so small that they don’t affect vision. At age 60 is when cataract related vision issues start appearing more often.

Causes for Cataracts Unrelated to Age

Besides ageing, there are other 4 causes for eye cataracts:

1. Some cases of cataracts originate from health conditions such as diabetes, or as a side effect of a surgical procedure to treat another eye ailment, like glaucoma or retinal detachment. These are known as secondary cataracts.
2. During childhood or from birth, congenital cataracts may appear. They usually are on the smaller side and are present on both eyes.
3. Wounds or other trauma on the eyes can trigger the development of eye cataracts, even several years after taking place.
4. Exposure to different kinds of ionizing radiation can also lead to the occurrence of eye cataracts.

What Can I Do to Prevent Eye Cataracts?

Some habits and other avoidable behaviors can increase the risk of developing eye cataracts. Alcohol abuse, smoking and prolonged exposure to the sun make you more likely to suffer from them. Also living with diabetes and not keeping it under control.

There are also measures we can take to reduce our risk of developing eye cataracts, such as wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when exposed to sunlight, quitting smoking and not drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Eating leafy greens, fruits and other antioxidant rich foods is recommended as well.

What Are the Symptoms of Eye Cataracts?

You can start experiencing different symptoms when the cataract is still of a smaller size. As it develops, common symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Difficulty seeing at night or in low light settings
• Lights are brighter than normal, sometimes even accompanied by auras
• Colors lose saturation
• Your glasses prescription changes more often than normal

When Should I Visit the Ophthalmologist

Starting at 60 years of age, it’s recommended to visit your ophthalmologist once every two years to get a full eye examination. This way any issues that could put your vision at risk can be detected on time.

If you live with diabetes, you identify with any of the risk factors mentioned on this article, or you feel like something is not going well with your vision, don’t wait until you are 60 years old to visit an ophthalmologist.

A virtual consultation can be a good first step to clear any doubts or questions that you might have. You can schedule one by clicking here.