Cataracts in Younger Adults: Causes and Treatment Options

Cataracts are typically thought of as an age-related condition. However, they can also occur earlier in life, a condition often termed early onset cataracts. Ophthalmologists tend to treat them quite conservatively, only resorting to surgery if they begin to cause significant vision problems.

There are many reasons a younger person might develop cataracts. Premature cataract causes include:

• Eye injury: This could be from blunt trauma (like being hit in the eye with a cricket ball) or what’s called a perforation injury, when a sharp object or small, fast-flying shard goes into the eye. Chemical burns can also cause eye damage that could potentially increase early-onset cataract risk.
• Chronic disease: Diabetes and thyroid conditions are known to be an underlying cause. Cataracts are also more common in those with very significant myopia (short-sightedness).
• Some medications: Long-term steroids, typically used for conditions like asthma, allergies, and lupus, as well as anticholinesterase drugs (used to treat Myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease, amongst other things).
• Excessive radiation: Such as cancer treatment or long-term exposure to bright sunlight without using protection (sunglasses) to guard the eyes from UV rays.
• Certain lifestyle factors: Smoking, substance abuse, being obese, or a diet lacking in the nutrients the eyes need for optimal health (including niacin, thiamine, omega-3s, carotenoids, riboflavin, and vitamins A, C, E, and B-complex).
• Genetics: While research into this is ongoing, there is evidence that suggests genetics may play a role.

Treating Early Onset Cataracts

Once diagnosed, the initial treatment is usually focused around making lifestyle changes and addressing any medical conditions or medications that might be a contributing factor. Indeed, as a young person, you may well find the first hurdle is that all-important diagnosis. 

Cataracts are an old-person thing, aren’t they? Or, at least, that’s what most people think…

But the thing about cataracts is that they need to be significantly formed before they start causing symptoms. Young adults (yes, that’s you included) tend to think they’re invincible. We all do it… And, let’s be honest, if you don’t have any eyesight issues then having regular eye exams is probably one of the furthest things from your mind.

But the sooner cataracts are diagnosed, the better they can be managed. Annual or bi-annual eye checkups are vital to pick up any issues at the earliest stages—and that includes young adult cataracts.

OK, lecture over…

The initial treatment might include things like:

• Wearing glasses for reading and close-up work.
• Getting and using anti-glare sunglasses for outdoors—prescription if necessary.
• Adding brighter light bulbs to the house so you don’t struggle to see in dimly lit conditions.
• Looking at any medications that might be contributing and seeing if these can be tweaked or changed.
• Checking for any undiagnosed medical conditions and, if found, putting the appropriate treatment in place. 
• Correctly managing any known disease, such as diabetes. (Yes, controlling your blood sugar is really, really important…)

All cataracts evolve, but this tends to be a relatively slow process. Young adult cataract surgery is usually only performed when it causes significant issues with vision. This procedure is the same as for age-related cataracts. It’s carried out at the doctor’s office and takes around 15-30 minutes. You’ll be able to go home the same day, and full recovery takes up to 8 weeks. The success rate is virtually 100%.

Research into both the causes and treatment of early-onset cataracts is ongoing. One promising area is the use of eye drops that might be able to dissolve cataracts. There’s no definitive answer so far, but early trials are looking hopeful. Such an FDA-approved product is still some years away, but you can be sure it’ll hit the headlines when it is. So, as the saying goes, watch this space…

Early-onset cataracts require specialist care. At the Modern Cataract Surgery clinic we treat every type of cataract, including those in younger people and young adult cataract surgery.

Visit https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com to find out more.