Although the exact cause of age-related cataracts is unknown, research suggests that there are certain things that can increase the risk of cataracts.
Changes to the lens in the eye
As people grow older, changes can occur to the protein that makes up the lens (the transparent structure at the front of the eye).
Some experts think that this may be linked to how fluids and nutrients reach the eye. These changes in the lens protein can cause cloudy areas to develop. It isn't known how or why getting older causes these changes to happen.
Who's at risk
Research suggests certain things may increase your risk of developing age-related cataracts. These include:
- a history of cataracts in your family
- smoking
- lifestyle factors, such as poor diet
- overexposing your eyes to sunlight
- taking steroid medicines (medicines that contain powerful chemicals called hormones) for a long time
Other causes
In younger people, cataracts may have other less common causes. For example:
- diabetes (a long-term condition caused by too much glucose in the blood, which can cause people to develop cataracts at an earlier age)
- injuries to the eye
- other eye conditions, such as uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract in the eye)
