What Causes Cataracts?

Normally, with the arrival of old age many people feel a change in their vision when everything appears to be cloudy. This is when they suspect of getting affected by cataracts and ask themselves what were the possible causes that lead to this disease. Read on to know what a cataract is and what its common causes are.

Defining Cataracts

Before knowing the causes of cataracts, it is essential that you first know what actually cataracts are. ‘Cataracts’ is a term generally referred to as a disease that usually affects people around the age of 70 and above and it causes a blurred vision. The word ‘cataract’ was derived from a Latin word “Cataracta”, meaning waterfall. Metaphorically, this Latin term has been used to denote this disease because of blurring in the eyes, which is also caused temporarily when we see a waterfall from a close distance.

Age Factor

The first and the most common cause of a cataract is age. As we grow older our lens also grow older and start loosing their natural clarity. Slowly, lens start browning and affecting reading and other routine activities that involve the use of eyes. Following are the types of cataracts that are related to the age factor:

• * Cortical Cataracts
• * Posterior Sub Capsular Cataracts
• * Nuclear Cataracts

Cortical Cataract

Another cause of cataracts is increase in the water content, which results in changing the protein structure and eventually it leads to lens opacification. When all this happens means you have been attacked by cortical cataract. People who suffer from this type of cataracts experience difficulty in:

• * Facing the glare of car headlights from opposite directions.
• * Seeing a single object properly and instead see each object in a double form.

Protein Lumping

Protein lumping is yet another cause of cataracts. This is somewhat related with ageing, as with age, the lens begin to denature and eyesight worsens. A person suffering from cataracts due to protein lumping may:
* Notice browning or blurring of vision in the initial stage.
* Cope up with it using eyeglasses and stronger lighting until surgery.

Other Causes

Apart from the above-mentioned causes, there are many other causes that lead to the disease called cataracts. So, just have a look at the following causes:

• * Long-term exposure to ultra-violet radiations.
• * Genetic factors like ancestors who suffered from cataracts.
• * Too much smoking also leads to cataracts in many cases.
• * Use of certain medications like oral, inhaled or topical steroids may also lead to cataracts.
• * Long-term use of medications like statins and phenothiazines.
• * People having severe hypertension may end up getting cataracts with the advancement of their age.
• * Certain eye injury or any physical trauma may also cause eye cataracts.
• * Sometimes people suffering from diabetes are also attacked by cataracts. A diabetes patient should take extra care of his eyes to prevent development of cataracts.

So, next time when you face blurring in your vision do check out these causes and analyze whether you have been affected by cataracts due to any of these causes.