What Causes Cataracts?
The most common type of Cataract is age-related. As you get older, the lenses in your eyes harden. Proteins in the lenses sometimes form clumps that become cloudy enough to preventing light from passing clearly through the eye. Sometimes the clouding is mild or small enough to only affect vision slightly. Other times, the clouding may affect all of the lens, causing severe vision problems.
There are other, less common types of Cataracts, including:
- Congenital Cataracts (also known as Developmental Cataracts) — this type often occurs in children, even infants. Though they seem to be hereditary or associated with some birth defects, some occur with no obvious cause.
- Non-Age Related Cataracts — this type of Cataract is caused by other diseases (such as diabetes), eye surgery, or excessive use of some medications.
- Traumatic Cataracts — this type of Cataract is caused by an injury to the eye. It might appear immediately after the injury, or it may take several months, even years, to develop.
