Cataracts - Risk Factors

Smokers and Alcoholics

Smokers. A study of nearly 18,000 doctors showed that those who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day had approximately twice the risk of developing cataracts. Smokers are at particular risk for cataracts located in the nuclear portion of the lens, which limit vision more severely than cataracts in other sites. Quitting smoking may reverse some of this damage.

Alcohol Users. Chronic drinkers are at high risk for a number of eye disorders, including cataracts. Alcohol has been implicated in cataract development in a number of studies. Wine provided the least risk, and the more moderate the drinking the lower the risk. Alcohol may work directly on the proteins in the lens itself and indirectly by affecting absorption of nutrients important to the lens.

Environmental Toxins

Long-term environmental lead exposure may increase the risk of developing cataracts according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers assessed bone lead levels in 795 men aged 60 years and older. Because lead tends to accumulate over time in the skeleton, the researchers measured lead levels in the men?s shin bones. Men with the highest levels of lead were three times more likely to have cataracts than men with the least amount of lead.

Nutrition

A poor diet may deprive the body of amino acids and B vitamins that are essential for eye health. A French study of elderly adults found that lower blood levels of the protein albumin were associated with an increased risk of cataracts.

Other Conditions

Other conditions that can trigger the process leading to cataracts include:

• Physical injury to the eye (such as a hard blow, cut, or puncture)
• Chemical burns
• Electrical shock injuries
• Chronic exposure to intense heat or cold

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