Causes

Cataracts occur as a result of aging, trauma, inflammation, or inherited characteristics. There could be several possible causes including:
•    smoking
•    diabetes
•    excessive exposure to sunlight
•    steroid use
•    diuretic use
•    certain major tranquilizers
For several of the potential causes listed (i.e., steroids, diuretics, and/or major tranquilizers), additional research is needed to differentiate the effect of the disease from the effect of the drugs themselves.