Cataracts - Other causes

Cataracts

Other causes of cataracts

Most people get cataracts because of aging. You may hear doctors call these senile cataracts or age-related cataracts.

But there are other causes, too. Here are some examples.

Health problems

You can get cataracts because of health problems and the treatments for them. Doctors call these secondary cataracts. Some health problems and treatments that can cause secondary cataracts are given below.

Having surgery for other eye problems. For example, you can get cataracts after surgery for

glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that affects your eyes. If you have glaucoma, your vision slowly gets worse. It happens when certain nerves in your head get damaged. These nerves carry images of what you see to your brain. Glaucoma is often caused by high pressure inside your eye.

glaucoma.
Having diabetes. People who have

diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).

diabetes often get cataracts at a younger age than others. To read more, see Cataracts and diabetes.
Taking steroids. Some health problems are treated with drugs called

steroids
Steroids are a type of chemical. Your body naturally produces steroids, which play a part in many of its processes. For example, steroids are involved in how your immune system, reproductive system and metabolism work. Steroids can also be given as medicines and are used for a number of different conditions: including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and eczema. Corticosteroids are not the same as the steroids used by some body builders and athletes. Those steroids are called 'anabolic steroids'.

steroids. Getting cataracts has been linked to taking these drugs for long periods.

Being born with them

Rarely, babies are born with cataracts or get them at a very young age. These are called congenital cataracts. Sometimes they happen if the baby's mother had an

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

infection while she was pregnant. For example, she might have had

rubella
Rubella is a childhood infection caused by a virus. It usually starts with mild cold symptoms, a sore throat and swollen glands. After that, you get a pink rash that spreads from your head to the rest of your body. Some people call it German Measles. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine protects children from getting rubella.

rubella.

Eye injury

You can get cataracts if you hurt your eye. But the cataracts might not show up until years later. These are sometimes called traumatic cataracts.

Radiation

Rarely, people get cataracts if they come into contact with certain types of radiation. For example, this could be the kind of radiation that comes from

radiation therapy
This treatment uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. It's most often used for tumors that are hard to treat with surgery alone. You won't feel any pain during this treatment, but you may get some side effects afterward.

radiation therapy. Being near intense heat may also increase your chance of getting cataracts.

This information was last updated on Dec 08, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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