What Causes Cataracts?
What Causes Cataracts?
Have you recently been diagnosed with cataracts? Or, maybe you have a high risk for this eye disease? Either way, you might be searching for information online: “What Causes Cataracts?”
Here at Village Eyecare, we are working hard to teach our patients about good eye care habits. We know that certain eye diseases can be prevented and managed using lifestyle changes and medications. Our goal is to support your overall health so that you can avoid some of these common vision problems.
What is a Cataract?
The lens of the eye is normally clear, providing full vision for the light to pass through the lens. If a person has cataracts, then it means that the lens becomes opaque or cloudy, which can block your vision.
The size and location of the cataract can change from patient to patient. As the disease progresses, it can start to interfere with regular vision. So, it is essential that you work with an experienced eye care professional so that you can learn about the options to treat this disease.
Cataract Symptoms
Do you have cataracts? If you notice any of these symptoms, then it is important that you talk to our team to schedule an exam. Symptoms include:
- Hazy vision
- Blurred vision
- Reduced color intensity
- Light sensitivity, especially at night
- Difficulty seeing at night
Once the symptoms start, there is nothing that can be done to slow or stop the symptoms. Usually, the changes are gradual for age-related cataracts, but it varies among patients.
What Causes Cataracts?
Most of the time, cataracts occur in people who are over the age of 55. But, occasionally this eye disease can occur in young children or infants. It is common for the disease to develop in both eyes, and sometimes the symptoms are worse in one eye compared to the other.
Here are some of the things that can cause cataracts:
- Age: Most cases are due to age-related changes in the lens of the eye
- Diabetes: Changes in blood sugar levels can impact the function of the eye
- Alcohol: Higher alcohol consumption has been linked with the development of cataracts
- Smoking: Patients who smoke have a higher risk of cataract development
- UV Damage: Due to sun exposure without wearing protective sunglasses
- Medications: Specifically corticosteroids and phenothiazine-related medications
Also, there is a potential connection between nutritional deficiencies and the development of cataracts. At this point the research is inconclusive, but studies suggest that there might be an association between depleted nutrients and the formation of cataracts. Early information suggests that certain types of antioxidants can be protective against the development of cataracts.
Cataract Prevention
Asking “What Causes Cataracts” is just the first step to protect your vision. As you learn more about this eye disease, you can make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk. Also, make sure to schedule regular eye exams with our team so that we can identify the early stages of this disease.
If you want to learn more, then we invite you to call the experts here at Village Eyecare. We are the leading eye care team in the Chicago area. Visit us at one of our four convenient locations to learn more about the treatments that are available.