Aside from age, what else causes cataracts?
In addition to age, cataracts can be caused by: • Smoking • Prior eye surgery, for example, for retinal problems such as macular holes • Diabetes, if your blood sugar is not in good control • Prolonged exposure to bright sunlight, without the protection of sunglasses or a hat • Exposure to ionizing radiation, for example that used to treat cancer • Trauma (cataracts are common in boxers) • Some medications, for example, Prednisone, which is often an ingredient in asthma inhalers, and is used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis • Family history
