What causes cataracts in old people? - ProProfs Discuss
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What causes cataracts in old people?

Asked by F.William, Last updated: Apr 11, 2024

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7 Answers

Todd Gurley

Todd Gurley

Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley

Answered Feb 12, 2021

Cataracts is a condition that normally affects the eyes of older people. As time goes on in a person's life, the tissues of that person can wear out. Some of those tissues are in the eyes of older people. These tissues that have been worn out will cause the lens in the eyes to change.

Along with old age, another cause of cataracts could be an eye injury. If that injury is not treated in time, then it could lead to a person getting the condition at an older age. Another reason for cataracts are other medical conditions, such as diabetes.

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M. Kennedy

M. Kennedy

M. Kennedy
M. Kennedy, Web Content Writer, Denver

Answered Feb 12, 2021

There are some people who may become prone to acquiring cataracts. Most people develop them when they become older, while there are also some that may acquire cataracts when they encounter accidents.

When a person becomes older, there may be some changes with the tissue that makes up the lens of the eyes. There are also some people who may become more prone to cataracts mainly because of some health issues.

For instance, those who are diagnosed with diabetes have a higher chance of developing cataracts as compared to those who do not have this medical condition. The protein that may be found in the eye may clump together in older people, which can also cause cataracts.

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D. Nichols

D. Nichols

D. Nichols
D. Nichols

Answered Feb 09, 2021

There are different causes of cataracts in old people. With increasing age, the central part of the lens becomes denser and stiffer and may acquire a coloration that progresses from yellow to black. Another change in lens color that sometimes occurs with aging is cataract, an opacity (clouding) of the lens that is one of the most common eye disorders.

A cataract is associated with alcohol use, smoking, and diseases such as diabetes. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation may also play a role, many experts recommend wearing sunglasses to delay the onset. Early changes in lens color do not interfere with vision, but the vision is impaired as the process slowly continues. Lastly, it is not only old people that develop cataracts some develop this as early as age 40.

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M. Jabrowsky

M. Jabrowsky

M. Jabrowsky
M. Jabrowsky, Bank Manager, Ohio

Answered Feb 01, 2021

Cataracts are a condition that affects the eyes, which mainly affects older people. When this condition occurs, the eyes natural lens is crowded. Due to this, a person with the condition will experience vision loss. Though it mostly affects older people, cataracts can affect people as young as 40 years old.

One of the main reasons for the condition being caused is simply older age. As a person goes older, certain functions deteriorate. Another cause of cataracts is if a person has eye surgeries. This could cause the person's eyes to get crowded. Along with that, there are other health conditions and illnesses that can affect the eyes.

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Anthony Paul Bonadio

Anthony Paul Bonadio

Its kind of my job to give answers

Anthony Paul Bonadio
Anthony Paul Bonadio, Teacher, MCA, PhD, Toledo

Answered Jan 28, 2021

Cataracts are examples of health conditions that come with old age. The reason for this is understandable as tissues of some important organs (eyes) in the body tend to worn out, thereby causing some changes to the eye's lens. While the above is just a possible reason for cataracts in old people, there are other causes of cataracts.

There are some eye injuries that can lead to cataracts if they are not properly treated on time. Some people are having cataracts because of some inherited genetic disorders that have increased their risk of cataracts. Some medical conditions such as diabetes can also cause cataracts.

Most of these conditions cause some eye tissues to break down, causing them to cloud the lens when they clump around the lens. Findings also show that past eye surgery can increase one's risk of cataracts. Cataracts cause the clouding of the eye's lens, leading to a decrease in vision.

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Carice Snow

Carice Snow

I am a well trend Motivational speaker at California.

Carice Snow
Carice Snow, Motivator, MA, California

Answered Oct 31, 2018

There are different reasons why old people can develop cataracts. This is the condition wherein the natural lens of the eyes become crowded. This can cause vision loss but even if this is a condition that is said to be experienced by older people, there are some who develop this as early as age 40. There are different things that may cause this. Aging is one of the most common reasons.

Other possible conditions are eye surgeries that the person has gone through in the past, other illnesses and conditions, and injuries. Those who have this type of condition can slow down the progress of cataracts through new eyeglasses. In order to completely cure this condition, it would require surgery.

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V. Barnes

V. Barnes

V. Barnes
V. Barnes

Answered May 18, 2018

The lens in your eye is comprised of mostly water and protein. As people age, some of the protein may start to clump together and begin to cloud the lens making it more difficult to see. This clumping and clouding is called a cataract. There are several suspected causes of cataracts besides just normal wear and tear that can happen as people age.

Diseases such as diabetes, personal behavior and habits such as smoking and alcohol use, and environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight are believed to contribute to the formation of cataracts. A cataract can only be medically confirmed by a comprehensive eye exam.

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