What Causes Cataracts?
The natural lens within your eye works similar to a camera lens: it focuses light in order to transmit images and is also responsible for adjusting your eye’s focus allowing you to see objects up close and far away with equal clarity. Your lens is mostly made of water and proteins; the proteins are arranged in a specific way that keeps your lens clear allowing light to pass through it to focus on your retina.
Unfortunately, as you age, some of the proteins in your lens may begin to clump together making a small area of your lens cloudy and less clear. This is known as a cataract. Over time, the clump of proteins may grow larger obscuring more of your vision. Although no one knows for sure exactly why cataracts form, researchers have identified certain risk factors that are associated with cataract development.
Apart from age, risk factors for cataracts can include:
- The UV radiation from sunlight
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- A high degree of myopia (nearsightedness)
- Family history of cataracts
- Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
If you have further questions about cataracts, please contact Brooks Eye Associates today or call (972) 736-9347 to schedule an appointment with our experienced Plano cataract surgeon Dr. Dain Brooks. We serve patients in Plano, Frisco, and surrounding areas of Dallas, Texas.
