Some people develop cataracts earlier than usual because the eye’s lens can become cloudy for reasons beyond aging. Risk factors include inherited traits, diabetes, long-term steroid medicine use, eye inflammation or injury, certain radiation exposure, smoking, and extensive sunlight exposure. Babies and children can also be born with cataracts or develop them after genetic conditions, infections, or other eye problems. Sometimes, no clear cause is found.
How can cataracts develop at a younger age?
A cataract forms when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. The lens helps focus light onto the retina, which allows you to see clearly. As people age, proteins inside the lens gradually break down and clump together. This is the main process behind age-related cataracts, but other factors can contribute to lens clouding earlier in life.
According to the National Eye Institute, cataracts can develop through changes in the lens that are not limited to aging. There is no single age that defines every case of early cataracts. A cataract in a child, a young adult, or someone in middle age may have different contributing factors, so age alone does not explain why it developed.
What causes cataracts to appear early?
Several medical, inherited, and environmental factors can increase the likelihood of developing cataracts before older adulthood. These factors do not affect everyone in the same way, and some people develop cataracts without an identifiable cause.
- Family history and inherited conditions: Cataracts can run in families. Genetic changes may cause cataracts to be present at birth or develop during childhood, and inherited susceptibility may also contribute to cataracts later in life.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes have a higher risk of cataracts. Cataracts may develop earlier in people with diabetes than in those without the condition.
- Long-term corticosteroid use: Steroid medicines used to manage conditions such as asthma, allergies, and inflammatory diseases can increase cataract risk, particularly with prolonged use. The risk depends on factors such as the medicine and the treatment involved.
- Eye inflammation and other eye conditions: Conditions that cause inflammation inside the eye, including uveitis, may contribute to cataract development. Certain other eye disorders can also increase risk.
- Previous eye injury or surgery: An injury can damage the lens and cause a cataract. It may appear soon after the injury or only years later. Cataracts can also develop after some types of eye surgery.
- Sunlight and radiation exposure: Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight and certain forms of medical radiation can contribute to cataract risk.
- Smoking and heavy alcohol use: Both are associated with a higher risk of cataracts and may contribute to cataracts forming more quickly.
- Other health conditions: Some long-term conditions, including high blood pressure and severe dermatitis, have also been associated with an increased risk.
The NHS identifies several of these risk factors, including diabetes, long-term steroid use, previous eye injury, certain eye conditions, smoking, family history, and regular exposure to sunlight without protection. Having one or more risk factors does not mean that a person will definitely develop cataracts.
Why do babies and children get cataracts?
Cataracts are less common in children than in older adults, but they can be present at birth or develop during childhood. Cataracts present at birth are called congenital cataracts. In some children, an inherited genetic change is responsible. In others, cataracts may be associated with particular conditions affecting the body's metabolism, an infection during pregnancy, or another eye disorder. Sometimes, doctors cannot identify a specific cause.
MedlinePlus notes that congenital cataracts may occur on their own or alongside certain inherited or developmental conditions. Some childhood cataracts develop later following eye inflammation, an injury, or exposure to medicines or radiation. The cause may involve more than one factor, and it is not always possible to identify why a child's lens became cloudy.
Early assessment is especially important for children because their visual systems are still developing. A cataract that interferes with vision can prevent normal visual development and contribute to amblyopia, commonly called lazy eye. The National Eye Institute's information on cataract types explains that childhood cataracts affecting vision may need prompt treatment, while smaller cataracts that do not interfere with sight may be monitored by an eye specialist.
Can early cataracts develop even without obvious risk factors?
Yes. Although several factors are known to increase cataract risk, not every early cataract has a clear explanation. A family may have no known history of cataracts, a person may have no diagnosed condition associated with them, and no specific exposure may be identified. Cataract development also involves changes in the lens that researchers are still studying. The absence of a known risk factor therefore does not rule out cataracts.
Likewise, having diabetes, taking prescribed steroid medicine, or spending considerable time outdoors does not automatically mean that cataracts will develop. These factors help eye care professionals understand a person's risk, but they cannot predict exactly who will develop a cataract or when it will appear.
Can you reduce the risk of getting cataracts early?
Not all cataracts can be prevented, particularly those related to inherited conditions or unavoidable medical circumstances. However, some practical steps may help reduce avoidable risks and protect eye health:
- Protect your eyes from UV radiation. Wear sunglasses that block UV rays and consider a wide-brimmed hat when spending time outdoors.
- Prevent eye injuries. Use appropriate protective eyewear during activities involving flying debris, tools, or potential impact to the eye.
- Avoid smoking. Stopping smoking can help reduce exposure to a known cataract risk factor.
- Manage long-term health conditions. Follow your healthcare professional's advice for diabetes and other conditions that may affect eye health.
- Review medicines with your prescriber. If you use steroid medicines for a prolonged period, ask whether you need eye monitoring. Do not stop or change prescribed steroids without medical guidance.
These measures can support eye health, but they cannot guarantee that cataracts will not develop. Some people will still develop them despite taking preventive steps.
When should you have your eyes checked?
Consider arranging an eye examination if you notice persistent changes in your vision, particularly if you are younger than the age at which cataracts commonly become noticeable. Examples of changes that may prompt an examination include:
- Cloudy, hazy, or blurred vision
- Difficulty seeing clearly at night
- Greater sensitivity to bright lights or glare
- Colors appearing faded or less vivid
- Halos around lights or occasional double vision
- Frequent changes in your glasses prescription
These experiences can occur with cataracts, but they can also result from other eye problems. An eye care professional can examine the lens, assess your vision, and consider your medical history, family history, medication use, and any previous eye injuries. As MedlinePlus explains in its guidance on adult cataracts, eye examinations and a slit-lamp examination can help establish whether lens clouding is present and assess possible causes of reduced vision.
Babies and young children need particular attention if a pupil appears white or cloudy, or if they do not seem to see or respond to visual surroundings as expected. Arrange prompt medical assessment rather than waiting for symptoms to progress. Sudden vision loss or a painful red eye also needs urgent medical assessment, rather than being assumed to be a cataract.
Finding out why cataracts have developed early can help guide appropriate monitoring and care. For some people, the explanation involves a treatable health condition or a medicine that needs review; for others, no definite cause will be found. An eye examination is the appropriate starting point for understanding the changes and deciding whether any further assessment is needed.