Cataracts - Causes

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Radiation Treatments. Cataracts are common side effects of total body radiation treatments, which are administered for certain cancers.

Electromagnetic Waves. Questions have been raised about the hazards of low-level radiation from computer screens. To date, no study has demonstrated an association between cataract development and video display terminals. It is a good idea, in any case, to sit at least a foot away from the front of a screen.

Medications

Corticosteroids. Long-term use of oral steroids is a well-known cause of cataracts. Studies have been conflicting, however, over whether inhaled and nasal-spray steroids increase the risk for cataracts. Information on cataract risk from inhaled steroids is important because they are commonly used for treatment of asthma and allergies.

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Other Medications Associated with Cataracts.

• Psoralens, a class of drugs used along with light therapy to treat skin disorders, such as psoriasis
• Antipsychotic medications such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• Glaucoma medications

Many others drugs have been weakly associated with cataracts, including allopurinol, tamoxifen, amiodarone, tricyclic antidepressants, potassium-sparing diuretics (but not other diuretics), thyroid hormone, tetracyclines, sulfamidase, and mepacrine. Statin drugs (used for managing cholesterol) may possibly reduce the risk for nuclear cataracts.

Click the icon to see an animation about cataracts.

Causes of Cataracts in Children

Rarely, about 1 in every 10,000 births, a baby is born with cataracts (called congenital cataracts).

• Inherited disorders are often involved in the development of congenital cataracts in children. Such cataracts are most often due to inborn abnormalities in the structure or shape of the lens, including its capsule. Certain types of genetic factors may play a role.
• Infection during pregnancy can lead to cataracts.
• Pregnant women who abuse alcohol or drugs increase the risk for cataracts (along with other more serious birth defects) in their infants.

Review Date: 06/23/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).