What Are The Causes Of Cataracts? Article

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What are the causes of cataracts?

The exact causes of cataracts are not completely known. Many researchers have conducted tests to determine how cataracts form and what causes them to form. A cataract forms on the eye’s lens when the tissue of the lens breaks down and begins clumping together.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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The clumped tissue creates a clouded area on the lens and prevents light from passing completely through the lens to the retina.

Causes of cataracts include:
• Trauma to the eye
• Diabetes
• Complications with eye surgery
• Hereditary enzyme defects
• Intraocular inflammation
• Exposure to excessive ultraviolet-light
• Smoking
• Long-term use of steroids

There are four types of cataracts that can form and impair your vision. The cause of the cataract determines which type of cataract will form. Each type of cataract will negatively affect your vision and can cause you to have blurry or double vision.

It is important to visit your ophthalmologist immediately if you have any symptoms of cataracts. Your ophthalmologist will determine how to treat your cataract and when cataract surgery is necessary. Be sure to ask your ophthalmologist all of your questions about cataracts to learn what you can expect and how it will affect your vision.

Types of Cataracts
The four types of cataracts are:
• Nuclear Cataracts
• Cortical Cataracts
• Subcapsular Cataracts
• Congenital Cataracts

Nuclear cataracts affect the center of your eye’s lens. They are the most common type of cataracts and develop with age. Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is typically a result of nuclear cataracts and can temporarily improve reading vision. The lens of the eye gradually clouds or turns yellow. The clouding of the lens impairs vision causing the patient to experience blurry or double vision.

Cortical cataracts affect the edges of your eye’s lens. Visible areas of white appear as wedge-shapes or streaks beginning at the edges of the lens and gradually extend toward the center of the lens negatively affecting vision. Diabetics are prone to develop cortical cataracts.

Subcapsular cataracts affect the back of the eye’s lens. They begin to form as an opaque area in the path where light travels to the retina. They are small at first and may mildly impair vision. They can grow larger over time and greatly interfere with reading vision. Subcapsular cataracts makes seeing in bright light difficult and causes halos around lights at night. Those with a higher risk of developing subcapsular cataracts have diabetes, have retinitis pigmentosa, take high doses of steroids, or have extreme farsightedness.

Congenital cataracts are cataracts that form at birth. Children can be born with cataracts or can develop them during childhood. Congenital cataracts do not always impair vision. Removal of the cataracts may be necessary if they do interfere with vision. Babies may develop cataracts if the mother contracted an infection during her pregnancy. Inherited syndromes can also cause cataracts. These syndromes include:

• Fabry’s Disease
• Alport’s Syndrome
• Galactosemia

To learn more about cataracts and their causes, please visit the website of Kelly Laser Center in New York today.

About Author

If you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts, New York LASIK surgeon Dr. Kelly can help. Kelly Laser Center has convenient offices in Long Island and Manhattan, and provides only the highest quality laser eye surgery, delivered with a personal touch. Contact Kelly Laser Center today for a free LASIK consultation, and get the clear vision you deserve.

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What are the causes of cataracts?