What Causes Cataract?

A cataract can occur due to many reasons.

• Age - As people age, changes can occur in the structure of the lens protein leading to cataract.
• Congenital causes- A cataract can occur in newborns as an inherited disorder or can develop in infants because of infections in the mother during pregnancy such as rubella, herpes simplex and syphilis.
• Secondary causes- Cataracts can form as a complication of other diseases such as diabetes. Prolonged use of corticosteroid eye drops increases the risk of cataract.
• Trauma – Certain injuries to the eye may result in formation of a cataract. A cataract may also develop years after the injury.
• Other causes include excessive exposure of the eyes to UV rays, X-rays and other radiation during radiotherapy.