While recent scientific advances are closing in on what causes
the proteins to rearrange and the lens to cloud up, we do know
key risk factors for cataract formation. Growing older is one.
So are long-term exposure to sunlight and smoking cigarettes.
Other risk factors are listed on the downloadable fact sheet.
|According to the World Health Organization, cataracts are the
leading cause of blindness in the world. In the U.S., more than
half of all people 65 and older have a cataract.| The majority
of cataracts are age-related. A cataract begins as a small
opacity within the lens and grows until it interferes with
vision. Many people have cataracts and don't even notice until
the defect grows large. Vision might appear a little hazy at
first and lights might give off a halo or glare. Colors can
appear faded. Blue might look green and yellow might appear
white. Ultimately, everyday tasks become challenging. It is at
this point that many people have cataract-removal surgery, which
can be very effective. The surg