What are the risk factors for cataracts?

San Diego cataract surgery

Cataracts are very common. In fact, around half of all people will eventually get cataracts if they live long enough. If cataracts are left untreated, they can cause severe vision loss. What is a cataract, and what causes this condition? Is there any way to reduce your risk of developing cataracts?

Cataracts result from clouding of the eye’s natural lens

The natural lens of the eye is located behind the pupil, which is the hole that allows light to enter into the eye. The lens acts to focus light on the retina, which is the tissue at the back of the eye that detects light. Normally, the lens is transparent, allowing light to pass easily through it.

In a person with a cataract, the lens becomes cloudy rather than clear. This occurs because proteins within the lens break down, and the protein fragments start to clump together. The cloudy lens then blocks light from entering into the eye as usual. At first, this may cause a dimming of vision. Over time, as the lens becomes cloudier, it can lead to blindness.

What factors increase the risk of cataracts?

There are several different factors that increase a person’s risk for developing cataracts. These include:

• Age. Although there are some people who are born with cataracts, the condition becomes much more common as people age. About a fifth of all people ages 65 to 74, and about half of all people over age 80, have developed cataracts.
• UV light exposure. Ultraviolet (UV) light, which is present in sunlight, accelerates the breakdown of the proteins in the lens. People whose eyes are exposed to more UV light are more likely to develop cataracts. To help protect your eyes, wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection whenever you’re outside in the light.
• High blood pressure. High blood pressure damages the tiny delicate blood vessels throughout the body, including in the eye. This increases the risk of cataracts. In fact, studies have found that, aside from age, high blood pressure is the most common risk factor in people with cataracts.
• Diabetes. When blood sugar is high, this also causes damage to delicate blood vessels and increases the risk of cataracts. The longer a person has diabetes, and the less well-controlled their blood sugar is, the more likely they are to develop cataracts.
• Smoking. Tobacco smoke contains a number of toxic substances, some of which cause damage to the lens of the eye.

San Diego cataract surgery

You can help to reduce your risk of cataracts by wearing sunglasses consistently, quitting smoking, and staying diligent with your treatment for high blood pressure and diabetes if you have these conditions. However, it’s still possible that you will end up with cataracts at some point. Fortunately, cataracts are very treatable. An eye surgeon can remove your eye’s cloudy lens, and replace it with an artificial one. You can choose from a variety of different artificial lenses, depending on your needs and preferences.

If you’ve been diagnosed with cataracts, or if you believe that you may be developing this common condition, we invite you to visit our office for a consultation with one of our expert eye surgeons. This will give you a chance to learn more about your options for cataract surgery. If you and your doctor decide that it’s time for cataract surgery, then you’ll know that you’re in truly expert hands. To schedule your appointment, please contact our front desk.