Who is more likely to get cataracts? These groups of people should pay attention!

01. What is cataract?

Cataract is a disease that occurs in the lens of the eye. Any reason (aging, heredity, local nutritional disorders, immune and metabolic abnormalities, poisoning, radiation, trauma, etc.) causes the lens protein to denature and become cloudy, which is called cataract. Cataract: It is a painless disease that slowly causes vision loss. The cloudy lens blocks the entry of light, resulting in unclear vision. Over time, it may lead to blindness.

02. What are the dangers of cataracts?

Peng Tingting, deputy chief physician and assistant director of the Cataract and Presbyopia Department at the Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University (Aier Eye Hospital Group Hubei Headquarters), explained: Not only do cataract patients experience a progressive decline in vision, making elderly patients more prone to falls, but the expansion or overmaturation stage of the cataract can also easily lead to complications such as glaucoma or uveitis, which can lead to permanent decline or even loss of vision.

03. Who is more likely to get cataracts?

Except for special circumstances, such as traumatic cataracts, congenital cataracts, long-term medication, exposure to radiation, etc. The following groups of people are more likely to get cataracts:

1. The older you are, the more likely you are to get

People with severe diarrhea, malnutrition, diabetes, long-term smoking, and drinking are prone to cataracts. However, the most common group of people with cataracts is the elderly, which we call senile cataracts. Basically everyone will suffer from cataracts, but the severity of cataracts is different, and it does not necessarily affect vision. With age, the severity of cataracts increases, and the proportion of cataracts that affect vision will become higher and higher. When people are over 90 years old, 90% will have cataracts that affect vision and need further treatment. Director Peng Tingting reminds: Middle-aged and elderly people should have regular eye examinations, and seek medical treatment in time if they have abnormal eye symptoms, so as to maintain their eye health.

2. External light stimulation

Long-term sunlight exposure, ultraviolet radiation irritation to the eyes, some radioactive light stimulation, etc. For example, Tibet in my country, a highland area with sufficient sunlight and particularly strong ultraviolet rays, is a high-incidence area of ​​cataracts.

3. Genetics

If people in your family get cataracts at an early age, you may also get cataracts at an early age. Just like if everyone in your family has premature gray hair, you are likely to inherit premature gray hair; if everyone in your family is tall, you are likely to be tall as well.

Be careful of cataracts if the following situations occur

Double vision, color vision changes

Loss of visual field, decreased contrast sensitivity, glare

If you experience the above symptoms, you should go to a regular eye hospital for examination