What are the causes of cataracts?

Eyes are very important to everyone, but if the eyes are not well protected, various diseases may occur. Cataract is a relatively common eye disease, which can cause serious harm to patients. Among people suffering from cataracts, the proportion of elderly people is relatively large, and many people cannot see things clearly because of cataracts. However, there are still many people who do not know why they suffer from cataracts. Only by understanding the causes of cataracts can we better prevent the occurrence of the disease.

Some people develop cataracts due to congenital factors, which are caused by genetic factors. However, many cataract patients are caused by acquired factors. We should have a more serious understanding of the acquired causes of cataracts so as to take preventive measures in life.

There are many causes of cataracts, the most common of which are oxidative stress, sunlight and ultraviolet radiation, drugs and toxins, diabetes, family inheritance, small molecules, trace elements and ion metabolism distribution disorders, anemia and nutritional disorders, etc. These factors lead to the process of cataracts, which is related to oxidative damage to the lens.

Among cataract patients, senile cataract patients are the majority, accounting for more than 80% of cataract patients, and most of them occur in elderly people over 50 years old. Senile degenerative changes are the main cause. Secondly, congenital cataract patients are also the majority. For example, many babies are found to have lens opacities at birth, which is caused by genetic factors or maternal viral infection or drug poisoning in early pregnancy.

Another cause of cataracts is traumatic cataracts, such as cataracts caused by severe eye trauma, penetrating radiation, and occupational toxins that cause lens damage. In some people with cataracts, there is lens opacity caused by eye disease or systemic disease, which is called secondary cataracts.

Cataract is a very harmful disease, and I believe most people are aware of it. However, don't ignore the disease just because you don't have cataracts now. Everyone is likely to develop cataracts. Therefore, everyone should carefully understand the causes of cataracts introduced above, and then take corresponding preventive measures in life based on these causes.