What Causes Cataracts? Doctors Reveal the Triggers Women Over 50 Shouldn’t Ignore
Plus find out when cataract surgery might be right for you
Key Takeaways
- Cataracts are a leading cause of vision changes after 50, but early symptoms are often subtle
- UV exposure, smoking and diabetes can significantly speed up cataract development over time
- Cataract surgery is safe, fast and highly effective at restoring clear vision
Notice your vision appears a little blurry lately? It could be cataracts, one of the most common eye conditions that affects vision as we age. But what causes cataracts, and how are they treated? Keep scrolling to discover six of the most common risk factors women over 50 need to know, plus when it’s time to visit your eye doctor.
What cataracts are and common symptoms
Cataracts are cloudy areas in the natural lens of your eye, the clear part that helps focus light. They can start to form as early as your 40s and 50s, but it can be another couple decades before they become big enough to impact your vision, explains James Dello Russo, MD, an optometrist at NJ Eye Center in Bergenfield, NJ. Around 40 percent of women have cataracts by age 70. By age 80, the number jumps to 71 percent.
Some of the most common symptoms of cataracts large enough to affect your vision include:
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- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Colors appearing duller or faded
- Trouble seeing at night
- Trouble seeing in bright light, like bright sun or headlights
- Seeing a halo around lights
- Double vision
- More frequent glasses or contact prescription changes
Of course, cataracts aren’t the only problem that can impact your vision as you get older. Other common culprits include age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. So if you’re having trouble seeing, you should visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam to figure out the underlying culprit, advises Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, an ophthalmologist in Oakland, NJ. They can easily spot cataracts with a dilated eye exam.
What causes cataracts?
Cataracts form due to normal changes in the eye that happen as we get older. “Most cataracts develop as a natural course of aging,” Dr. Dello Russo says.
The lens of your eye is clear when you’re young. Over time, it can turn cloudy and brown, which can impact your vision. While experts don’t fully understand why this happens, it’s thought that wear and tear causes the fibers of the lens to become damaged and lead to changes in your eyesight, Dr. Hilal-Campo says. Some of this wear and tear may be unavoidable. But things that cause oxidative damage to the cells of your eyes can make it worse or cause cataracts to form sooner, she adds. Risk factors can include:
Sun exposure
You already know the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin and increase skin cancer risk. But it turns out they can also damage your eyes and increase your chances for cataracts. “Cumulative sun damage to lens proteins changes the structure in the lens, causing the lens to become cloudy over time,” Dr. Dello Russo explains.
Smoking
Cigarettes and tobacco create oxidative damage to your eyes, too. In fact, the FDA reports that cigarette smokers are up to three times more likely to develop cataracts compared to those who don’t smoke. (Check out our best quit-smoking tips.)
Uncontrolled diabetes
High blood sugar damages the lens of your eye over time and increases your risk for cataracts, Dr. Hilal-Campo notes. Some findings even suggest that having diabetes can increase your cataract risk up to fivefold.
Eye injuries
Injuries caused by blunt trauma (like a hard bump) or a sharp object may also harm the lens of your eye and raise your odds of developing cataracts later in life.
Medication use
Long-term use of corticosteroids can increase your cataract risk, Dr. Hilal-Campo says. How? They can potentially lead to changes in the proteins that make up your eye lens.
Family history of cataracts
You’re more likely to develop cataracts if your parents or siblings have them. If you’re concerned about your family’s eye health history, let your eye doctor know.
When to talk to your doctor about cataracts
Taking steps to prevent cataracts naturally—including keeping up with regular eye exams—is a great start toward protecting against vision loss. But if you’re having a harder time seeing clearly or vision problems are making it tougher to do everyday activities, you should visit your doctor.
Cataracts that get in the way of reading, driving or watching TV can be successfully treated with surgery. “Recovery is usually very fast, and the majority of people who undergo cataract surgery are very satisfied with their vision,” assures Julia Giyaur, MD, an ophthalmologist at New York Laser Vision in New York City.
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