Who is at risk for cataracts?
Cataracts occur as part of the aging process, so everyone is at risk eventually. By age 75, about 70 percent of people will have cataracts. The eye’s lens slowly becomes less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Then areas of the lens become cloudy. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes at about the same time.
These factors increase the risk of developing cataracts:
- Advanced age;
- Diabetes;
- Family history;
- Smoking;
- Previous eye injury or inflammation;
- Prolonged steroid use (especially combined use of oral and inhaled steroids); and
- Extensive exposure to sunlight.
If you have any of these risk factors, you should schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist, Eye M.D.
