The development of cataracts occurs when the lenses in the eyes become cloudy. Generally, the cataracts in each eye develop at a different pace meaning that one eye will have better vision than the other. It is possible to treat the eyes provided the problem is caught early enough.

The lens in an eye is just like the lens you would find on a camera. It allows light to pass through and focuses the light at the back of the eye on the retina. The retina passes this information to the optic nerve that sends it to the brain for interpretation. In humans, the lens is formed from a transparent protein. Cataracts develop when the cells that make up the transparent protein lose their rigidity and start to drift. This often results in a noticeable change in a person's vision. Over time the drifting cells tend to congregate together forming a thick concentration of protein cells. This has the affect of making the lenses opaque or cloudy in these areas. this can affect the ability of the lens to do it's job.

As the condition develops more of the protein will come together making the lens even more cloudy or opaque. Eventually the lens will be so cloudy that no light can pass through and the person has complete loss of vision. It must be stressed that this condition is reversable if picked up in the early stages of development.

Cataracts develop because of a unique character of the lens. It has no direct blood supply. Blood nourishes cells in the body giving them mineral, vitamins and in this case antioxidants. Instead the lens relies on the aqueous humor that is located behind the lens for this nourishment.

The primary cause of cataracts is exposure to free radicals. Free radicals are thought to cause illness and diseases in the body, including many cancers. The affects can be minimized by antioxidants that are delivered to the cells of the body through the blood supply. As the lens does not have a direct blood supply it cannot get antioxidants and is susceptible to the damage causes by free radicals.

Free radicals enter the body in many ways. For instance sunlight is a cause of free radicals. The types of foods that we eat also introduce free radicals into the body. As we get older the free radicals will build up and have more affect on the body. This is partly why people get cataracts as they get older. However there are a number of other risk factors which predispose people to getting cataracts.

Exposure to sunlight, or rather the ultraviolet light in sunlight, creates free radicals that damage the lens. Thus the importance of good sunglasses can't be stressed enough, especially if you live in a climate that has plenty of days of sunlight. Or if you work outdoors.

As already mentioned the foods we eat and the way we digest them can also cause a build up of free radicals. Poor quality food, like many processed food cooked or preserved in trans fats will cause a build up of free radicals. Indigestion, constipation and bloating are all signs of poor digestion and keep free radical in the body for longer.

Smoking is another activity that can increase the risk of getting cataracts.

Diseases such as diabetes are bad for the eyes because they impact the circulatory and nervous systems. This often leads to problems with the eyes because they do not get an adequate supply of blood. Cataracts are a common complication of diabetes.

It is true that age and genes can influence the chances of getting cataracts but by limiting your exposure to some of the factors listed above you can minimize your risk of developing cataracts.