Cataract risk factors: who is more likely to get cataracts

What a cataract is

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye, the clear part that helps focus light. At first you may not notice it, but over time cataracts can make vision blurry, hazy or less colorful, and they can lead to vision loss (NEI). A cataract can affect one or both eyes, but it does not spread from one eye to the other (MedlinePlus).

Most cataracts happen because of normal changes in the eye with age. Around age 40, proteins in the lens start to break down and clump together, making a cloudy area that gets worse over time (NEI). Cataracts can also develop after an eye injury or after surgery for another eye condition, such as glaucoma (NEI) (MedlinePlus).

Who is more likely to get cataracts

Cataracts are very common as people get older. More than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to remove them (NEI). Your risk goes up with age. NEI says you are also at higher risk if you (NEI):

• have certain health problems, like diabetes
• smoke
• drink too much alcohol
• have a family history of cataracts
• have had an eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatment on your upper body
• have spent a lot of time in the sun
• take steroids, medicines used for some health problems such as arthritis or allergies

MedlinePlus gives the same list, except that it does not name radiation treatment (MedlinePlus). Age, family history and a past injury cannot be changed; smoking, drinking and time in the sun are habits. See type 2 diabetes risk factors, the quit smoking check and the AUDIT-C alcohol check.

If you are worried about your risk, NEI suggests asking your doctor whether there is anything you can do to lower it (NEI).

Symptoms

Mild cataracts may cause no symptoms. As they grow, you may notice (NEI):

• cloudy or blurry vision
• colors that look faded
• trouble seeing at night
• lamps, sunlight or headlights that seem too bright
• a halo around lights
• double vision, which sometimes goes away as the cataract gets bigger
• needing to change your glasses or contact lens prescription often

Talk with your eye doctor about any of these, since they can also be signs of other eye problems (NEI). See glaucoma risk factors and macular degeneration risk factors.

How cataracts are found

An eye doctor can check for cataracts during a dilated eye exam. NEI advises people age 60 or older to get a dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years (NEI). The vision screening check for older adults covers what the US Preventive Services Task Force says about screening in primary care, which is a different question from an eye exam by an eye doctor.

Steps that may protect your eyes

NEI lists these steps (NEI):

• protect your eyes from the sun with sunglasses and a hat with a brim
• wear protective eyewear when using power tools or playing certain sports
• quit smoking; free support is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
• eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and whole grains

MedlinePlus says sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat that block ultraviolet light can help delay cataracts (MedlinePlus).

Common questions

What are the predisposing factors for cataracts?

"Predisposing factors" is another way to say risk factors. The ones NEI lists are older age, diabetes and some other health problems, smoking, heavy drinking, family history, eye injury or surgery, radiation treatment on the upper body, a lot of sun, and steroid medicines (NEI).

Can cataracts be treated?

Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract, but you may not need it right away. Brighter lights, anti-glare sunglasses, magnifying lenses or a new glasses prescription can help early on. Surgery replaces the cloudy lens with an artificial lens; NEI says it is very safe and 9 out of 10 people see better afterwards. Waiting usually does not harm your eyes or make surgery harder later (NEI).

Do cataracts run in families?

Yes, a family history of cataracts raises your risk, and NEI encourages people with cataracts to ask family members to get checked (NEI).