Causes And Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of a Cataract

The main cause of cataracts is aging. Other factors that put you at risk of developing a cataract include: 

• Genetic predisposition
• Diabetes and other metabolic diseases
• Long-term use of corticosteroids, diuretics and tranquilizers
• Trauma to the eye
• Previous eye surgery
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Living at high altitude
• Chronic eye inflammation
• Smoking

Diagnosing cataracts 

Your eye care physician can diagnose a cataract during a routine eye exam that includes:

• Visual acuity test: This common eye chart test measures vision ability at various distances using a series of lenses.
• Pupil dilation: The pupil is widened with eye drops to allow a close-up examination of the eye's lens and retina.