Cataracts are a cloudy area that forms on the lens of the eye, blocking light from passing through the retina. This cloudiness causes issues like blurry vision, difficulty with night vision, and increased sensitivity to glare. Undergoing cataract surgery is a common way that these issues are effectively resolved. Although cataracts are more common among older adults, there are other factors besides age that contribute to their development. Here is information elaborating on four factors that affect how cataracts develop:
Age
As you age, the proteins on your eye lens may break down and form clumps that manifest as cloudy areas. This cloudy area may grow larger over time, taking up more of the lens, which decreases your visual field. Ophthalmologists classify age-related cataracts based on where they occur in the lens. Nuclear sclerotic cataracts occur in the eye’s nucleus, whereas posterior subcapsular cataracts occur in the back of the lens. The deposits that form in the cortex of the eye are called cortical cataracts. While there is not much that can be done to prevent age-related cataract formation, protecting your eyes from excessive sun exposure and injury may slow down cataract formation.
Genetic Predisposition
A family history of cataracts could make you more susceptible to developing the condition earlier in life. Mutations in the genes responsible for the development and maintenance of the eye’s lens may cause congenital cataracts. For some individuals, these cloudy areas may form on a baby’s lens during development in the womb and are present at birth. Cloudy lenses may have no effect on your child’s eyesight, but it helps to schedule them for regular eye exams for early identification of potential visual problems. Share your family medical history with your eye doctor for early preventative measures to minimize your risk of cataracts.
Diet and Lifestyle
The eye’s lens is vulnerable to oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between free radical atoms in your body. An excess of free radical atoms can exacerbate cataract formation. Eating foods rich in antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals, reducing your risk or slowing down the progression of cataracts. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants like vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and lutein helps protect the lens from oxidative damage. Other dietary changes, including reducing sodium intake and avoiding overly processed foods, unhealthy fats, and sugars, should decrease oxidative stress in the body.
Blunt or penetrating eye injuries, which sometimes happen to individuals who play contact sports, could damage the lens, causing cataract formation. Excessive alcohol consumption is another risk factor as it increases the production of free radicals, which damage lens proteins. The toxic smoke produced by cigarettes also causes oxidative stress in the body, making your eyes more susceptible to cataracts.
Medical Conditions
Medical conditions like diabetes and high blood sugar may increase your risk of developing cataracts at a younger age. Conditions that cause elevated blood sugar levels can result in the deposition of glucose and swelling, which eventually causes damage to the lens. Other conditions like hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and obesity cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, contributing to lens deterioration. If you use corticosteroids due to rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, or asthma, you may be at risk of developing subcapsular cataracts. Uveitis, an eye disease caused by inflammation of the blood vessels under the eye, can also cause lens damage. During cataract surgery, you may undergo procedures like extracapsular cataract extraction or Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) to help correct the problem.
Resolve Your Vision with Cataract Surgery
Cataracts frequently occur with age, but factors like genetics, underlying conditions, and lifestyle can influence how soon you develop this eye condition and how they progress. If you already have cloudy lenses that affect your vision, cataract surgery can resolve your eye problems. Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to determine your risk factors and the benefits of available treatments and preventative measures for cataracts.
