What Causes Cataracts to Develop?
Have you noticed that your vision is hazier than it used to be? Perhaps night driving has become more challenging, or you find yourself squinting more often when reading. If so, you might be dealing with cataracts, one of the most common eye conditions affecting millions of people each year. To ease your mind, we explain what causes cataracts and provide cataract surgery to restore your vision.
Understanding Cataracts
Your eye has a natural lens that is normally crystal clear, allowing light to pass through and focus properly on your retina. Think of it as a window that lets you see the outside clearly. When cataracts develop, this lens becomes cloudy, almost like looking through a foggy window. Cloudiness blocks and scatters light, making your vision blurry and less sharp.
Cataracts are incredibly common. By age 80, most Americans either have cataracts or have had them surgically removed. So if you are facing the condition, you are not alone.
The Primary Culprit: Natural Aging
The primary risk factor for cataract development is aging. As we age, the proteins in our eyes’ lens naturally start to break down and clump together. These protein clumps are responsible for the cloudiness associated with cataracts.
Most people begin developing cataracts in their 60s, though symptoms might not be noticeable right away. Usually, they will develop gradually over several years. Your vision might seem fine one day, then you realize you’re having trouble reading street signs or restaurant menus.
Additional Risk Factor: Excessive Sun Exposure
Those years of soaking up sunshine without proper eye protection can catch up with you. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun damages the proteins in your lens over time, potentially speeding up cataract formation.
This doesn’t mean you need to stay inside, but it does highlight the importance of wearing good-quality sunglasses with UV protection. Even on cloudy days, harmful UV rays can reach your eyes and contribute to long-term damage and cataract formation.
How Lifestyle Choices Affect Your Eyes
Your daily habits can influence cataract development more than you might realize. Smoking, for instance, affects blood circulation throughout your body, including your eyes. Poor circulation can accelerate the breakdown of proteins in your lens, leading to the development of cataracts earlier and their progression to occur faster.
Heavy alcohol consumption has also been shown to increase the risk of cataracts. The exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, but researchers believe alcohol may interfere with the eye’s ability to maintain healthy lens proteins.
Medical Conditions That Increase Risk
Certain health conditions can increase the likelihood of developing cataracts. Diabetes is a significant risk factor because high blood sugar levels can cause your lens to swell and change shape. People with diabetes often develop cataracts at younger ages than those without the condition.
Other conditions that may increase your risk include high blood pressure, a history of eye inflammation, and certain genetic disorders. If you have any of these conditions, regular eye exams become even more important for early detection and monitoring.
The Role of Genetics
Family history plays a part in cataract development. If your parents or siblings have developed cataracts, you may be more likely to develop them as well. While you can’t change your genetics, being aware of your family history helps you and your eye care provider stay alert for early signs.
Eye Injuries and Trauma
Sometimes cataracts develop following an eye injury, even if the trauma occurred years earlier. A blow to the eye, a penetrating injury, or certain eye surgeries can trigger cataract formation in the future. This is why protecting your eyes during sports and work activities is so important.
Recognizing the Signs
Cataracts typically develop slowly, so you might not notice changes immediately. Common symptoms include blurry or cloudy vision, increased sensitivity to light, difficulty seeing at night, seeing halos around lights, and colors appearing faded or yellowed.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to schedule an eye exam. Early detection allows for better monitoring and planning for treatment when necessary.
Moving Forward
Understanding what causes cataracts can help you make informed decisions about your eye health. While some factors, such as aging and genetics, are beyond your control, others, like sun protection and lifestyle choices, are within your influence. Cataracts are treatable, and modern cataract surgery is highly successful, helping millions of people restore clear vision each year. If you’re concerned about cataracts, don’t hesitate to consult with an eye care professional who can assess your situation and recommend the best treatment for maintaining your vision.
Cataract Surgery in Hawaii
If you want to restore your vision or are simply interested in learning more about cataracts and their treatment, contact our eye care clinic, and we will be happy to help you.