Even young people can develop cataracts

The world’s leading cause of blindness, cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes clouded. In most cases, lens fibers clump together due to age-related deterioration.

Cataracts, however, can develop in younger individuals due to eye injuries, eye diseases or inflammation.

Here are five tips that can help delay or prevent cataracts from causes other than aging.

1. Protect your eyes from trauma. An injury to the eye can cause cataracts to form. Wear safety glasses when the situation calls for them.

2. Protect your eyes from the side effects of medications, including prolonged use of steroids, tranquilizers, and psoriasis medications, which can cause cataracts when taken in large doses over a long period of time.

3. Don’t smoke, say doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

4. People with diabetes should keep their blood sugar under control. Diabetics often get cataracts at an earlier age than other adults.

5. Protect your eyes from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. They accelerate the development of cataracts. Wear ultraviolet-protective sunglasses outside.