Cataracts

Causes & Prevention

Cataracts May Be Caused By Wear And Tear, But Smoking and Alcohol Use Are Also Risk Factors

Cataracts are the clouding of an area of the lens of the eye. The lens is made up of water and protein. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The protein in the lens is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.

What Does It Mean When Medical Experts Say "Race" Is A Risk Factor For Certain Diseases?

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.

Use of Corticosteroid Asthma drugs by elderly increases risk of Cataracts

Researchers at McGill University's Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics report that even at half the typical daily dose of corticosteroid, there is an increased risk of cataracts for seniors taking this medication for COPD or asthma.