Who is most likely to develop cataracts?

Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts. At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract.


Who is most at risk of getting cataracts?

Risk factors
  • Increasing age.
  • Diabetes.
  • Excessive exposure to sunlight.
  • Smoking.
  • Obesity.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Previous eye injury or inflammation.
  • Previous eye surgery.


What are the first signs of having cataracts?

What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
  • Cloudy Vision – One of the most obvious signs of early-stage cataracts is the appearance of noticeable fuzzy spots in your field of vision. ...
  • Difficulty Seeing at Night – Patients with early-stage cataracts also report gradual worsening of nighttime vision.


What is the average age for getting cataracts?

Cataracts typically begin developing in people age 40 years and older but don't usually begin to impair vision until after age 60. However, younger people can develop cataracts, too.

What causes fast growing cataracts?

Trauma-related cataracts are typically the most fast-growing type of cataracts. Radiation: Radiation-related cataracts, sometimes listed under trauma-related cataracts, occur after the lens has been exposed to radiation. Exposure to high levels of radiation can result in clouded vision in as little as two years.


Who can get a cataract?



Does everyone eventually get cataracts?

Cataracts are common as you grow older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older have had cataracts or cataract surgery to remove their cataracts. Eventually, almost everyone will develop cataracts.

How to avoid cataract?

The significant ways of preventing and delaying the vision loss due to cataract are discussed in this article.
  1. Modify your diet. ...
  2. Protection from Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. ...
  3. Stop smoking. ...
  4. Control your blood sugar. ...
  5. Avoid trauma. ...
  6. Avoid the unnecessary use of steroids. ...
  7. Visit your eye doctor. ...
  8. What if I still get cataract?


How can I prevent cataracts naturally?

Research has shown that eating foods that contain the healthy vitamins C and E, and lutein and zeaxanthin, may reduce your risk of cataracts. Additionally, if you already have cataracts, these vitamins and nutrients may slow their progression.
...
Eat a healthy diet
  1. Vitamin C. ...
  2. Vitamin E. ...
  3. Lutein and zeaxanthin.


How do you slow down cataracts?

In other words, they can't hurt to try!
  1. Protect Eyes from Exposure to Sunlight. ...
  2. Eat a Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet. ...
  3. Maintain a Healthy Weight. ...
  4. Don't Smoke. ...
  5. Reduce Alcohol Use. ...
  6. Manage Other Health Problems. ...
  7. Have Regular Complete Eye Examinations.


What causes cataracts to get worse?

UV light can cause cataracts to progress faster than they otherwise would. While it would not be healthy to avoid all exposure to the sun, it's best to avoid going out when the glare is brightest and the UV light is strongest—from 10 am to 4 pm most of the year, and from 11 am to 3 pm during daylight savings time.

Why is cataract surgery not recommended?

For example, if you have advanced macular degeneration or a detached retina as well as cataracts, it's possible that removing the cataract and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) might not improve your eyesight. In such cases, cataract surgery may not be recommended.


What vitamins prevent cataracts?

7 Nutrients that Help Prevent Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
  • #1: Vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins for cataracts. ...
  • #2: Vitamin E. ...
  • #3 & #4: Lutein & Zeaxanthin. ...
  • #5: Vitamin A. ...
  • #6: Glutathione. ...
  • #7: Zinc. ...
  • A Balanced Diet. ...
  • Talk to Your Eye Doctor.


Can vitamin D help cataracts?

Being exposed to sufficient sunlight was reported to help prevent cataract formation. According to Park and Choi, these findings could suggest the clinical use of vitamin D in the prevention of age-related cataracts and especially nuclear cataracts [21].

How can I prevent my cataracts from getting worse early?

5 ways to keep cataracts from getting worse
  1. Have regular eye exams. ...
  2. Watch your blood sugars if you have diabetes. ...
  3. Stop smoking. ...
  4. Reduce alcohol consumption. ...
  5. Eat a balanced diet. ...
  6. Wear sunglasses.


Can glasses help with cataracts?

Eyeglasses can help achieve visual clarity for those who do not have a severe case of cataracts. Eyeglasses will not permanently fix cataracts, and your condition can continue to worsen.

Can you get rid of cataracts without surgery?

Unfortunately, there's no way to get rid of cataracts without cataract surgery. Some ophthalmologists are exploring alternatives, but at this time, only cataract surgery can cure your cataracts.

How long before cataracts cause blindness?

The National Eye Institute publishes that age-related cataracts can form in a person's 40s or 50s, but they generally progress slowly enough that they do not start to really impair vision until age 60 or so.


Can cataracts be stopped growing?

Because lens opacification is a natural aging process, there is no way to completely prevent cataracts. However, you can greatly reduce your risk of the condition at an earlier age and/or slow the progression with the help of lifestyle modification.

What color eyes are more prone to cataracts?

People with dark brown eyes have the greatest risk of developing cataracts. An Australian study found that the risk can be up to 2.5 times greater for certain types of cataracts. Researchers suspect the reason is similar to wearing a black shirt in the middle of summer.

What deficiency causes cataracts?

People with low blood levels of antioxidants and those who eat few antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables have been reported to be at high risk for cataracts. Vitamin B2 and vitamin B3 are needed to protect glutathione, an important antioxidant in the eye. Vitamin B2 deficiency has been linked to cataracts.


Does coffee prevent cataracts?

Incidence of cataract blindness was found to be significantly lower in groups consuming higher amounts of coffee in comparison to the groups with lower coffee intake. Mechanistically, the caffeine effect could be multifactorial, involving its antioxidant as well as its bioenergetic effects on the lens.

What foods prevent cataracts?

Omega-3 fatty acids are also known to reduce the risk of cataract development and progression. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include shrimp, tuna, cod, salmon, halibut, trout, herring, walnut, flaxseed oil, canola oil and spinach. Eat fish at least twice per week to nourish your eyes and protect your vision.

Can cataracts grow back?

No, cataracts cannot come back after surgery. The artificial intraocular lens cannot grow a cataract. However, after surgery the lens capsule may become cloudy.


When is it too late to have cataract surgery?

Although it's never too late to have a cataract removed, it is better to have cataracts removed while they are immature, as this reduces the length of surgery and the recovery time. Earlier removal also means that you avoid the significant visual impairment associated with very mature (hypermature) cataracts.