Causes of Cataracts

What causes cataracts?

The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away.

The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.

But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.

Smoking and diabetes contribute to the development of cataract. Or, it may be that the protein in the lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes over the years.

Source: NEI (NIH)¹

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Back to: « Cataracts

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What causes cataracts?

The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.

But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.

Researchers suspect that there are several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes. Or, it may be that the protein in the lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes over the years.

Source: NEI (NIH)²

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“I don’t usually think of cataract as an eye disease. In most cases, it’s simply a normal aging change of the eye,” says Dr. Rachel Bishop, an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) at NIH. “Typically, cataracts don’t cause damage to the eye the way most eye diseases do.”

Source: NIH News in Health (NIH)³

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Cataracts occur when the normally clear lens of your eye becomes cloudy, restricting the amount of light that reaches your retina, leading to a decrease in vision.

There are many different causes of cataracts.

• Age-related cataracts can occur as part of the ageing process and are more common in people over 60.
• Secondary cataracts are caused by other medical conditions (eg, diabetes), inflammatory eye conditions or an inflammatory skin condition (eg, eczema).
• Traumatic cataracts are caused by injury to the eye or lens.
• Congenital cataracts are present at birth or develop in early childhood. They may be caused by an illness or infection during pregnancy, or as the result of a genetic defect.
• Toxic cataracts can result from chemical toxicity (poison) or long-term use of some medications, such as corticosteroids (like prednisone).
• High blood pressure and glaucoma may also be a cause of cataracts.
• Smoking and alcohol have been linked to the development of cataracts.

Source: New Zealand Health⁴

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What causes age-related cataracts?

Cataracts are when the lens, a small transparent disc inside your eye, develops cloudy patches.

Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness.

When we're young, our lenses are usually like clear glass, allowing us to see through them. As we get older, they start to become frosted, like bathroom glass, and begin to limit our vision.

Source: NHS Choices UK⁵

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What causes age-related cataracts?

It's not entirely clear why we are more likely to develop cataracts as we get older, but some things may increase your risk of cataracts, including:

• a family history of cataracts
• smoking 
• diabetes
• eye injury
• long-term use of steroids
• drinking too much alcohol

Source: NHS Choices UK⁶

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What causes cataracts in children?

There are a number of reasons why a child may be born with cataracts or develop them while they're still young. However, in many cases it isn't possible to determine the exact cause.

Possible causes include:

• a genetic fault inherited from the child's parents that caused the lens to develop abnormally
• certain genetic conditions, including Down's syndrome
• certain infections picked up by the mother during pregnancy, including rubella and chickenpox
• an injury to the eye after birth

Read more about the causes of childhood cataracts.

Source: NHS Choices UK⁷

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Causes of acquired cataracts

Cataracts that develop in children after they're born are known as acquired, infantile or juvenile cataracts.

Causes of this type of cataracts can include:

• galactosaemia - where the sugar galactose (which mainly comes from lactose, the sugar in milk) can't be broken down by the body 
• diabetes - a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high
• eye trauma - as a result of an injury to the eye or eye surgery
• toxocariasis - a rare parasitic infection that can sometimes infect the eyes, spread from animals to humans via their infected faeces

However, most of these problems are either rare or don't usually cause cataracts to develop in children.

Source: NHS Choices UK⁸

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Marfan syndrome: Other possible eye-related symptoms of Marfan syndrome include:

• cataracts - where cloudy patches develop in the eye's lens, causing blurred or misty vision

Source: NHS Choices UK⁹

Causes of Cataracts

Causes of the condition may include:¹⁰ Causes of Cataracts:

• 19q13.11 Microdeletion Syndrome
• 1p36 Deletion Syndrome
• 1q21.1 Microdeletion Syndrome
• 1q21.1 Microduplication Syndrome
• 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
• 2q24 Microdeletion Syndrome
• 3-Methylglutaconic Aciduria Type 4
• 3-Methylglutaconic Aciduria With Cataracts, Neurologic Involvement, And Neutropenia
• 3q29 Microdeletion Syndrome
• 3q29 Microduplication
• 8q21.11 Microdeletion Syndrome
• Absence Deformity Of Leg-Cataract Syndrome
• Acanthamoeba Keratitis
• Achromatopsia 3
• Acroosteolysis Dominant Type
• Acro-Renal-Ocular Syndrome
• Adams-Oliver Syndrome
• Aicardi Syndrome
• Alagille Syndrome 1
• Aldh18A1-Related De Barsy Syndrome
• ALG2-CDG
• ALG8-CDG
• Alpha-Mannosidosis
• Alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase Deficiency
• Alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase Deficiency Type 3
• Alport Syndrome
• Alport Syndrome, Autosomal Recessive
• Alstrom Syndrome
• Angioosteohypertrophic Syndrome
• Aniridia
• Aniridia-Absent Patella Syndrome
• Aniridia And Absent Patella
• Aniridia-Intellectual Disability Syndrome
• Aniridia-Ptosis-Intellectual Disability-Familial Obesity Syndrome
• Anterior Segement Dysgenesis 8
• Armfield X-Linked Mental Retardation Syndrome
• Aspartylglucosaminuria
• Autoimmune Hypoparathyroidism
• Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome, Type II
• Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy Type 1
• Autoinflammation, Antibody Deficiency, And Immune Dysregulation, Plcg2-Associated
• Autosomal Recessive Cerebelloparenchymal Disorder Type 3
• Autosomal Recessive Palmoplantar Keratoderma And Congenital Alopecia
• Autosomal Recessive Stickler Syndrome
• Band-Like Calcification With Simplified Gyration And Polymicrogyria
• Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 1
• Bardet-Biedl Syndrome 18
• Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome
• Basel-Vanagaite-Smirin-Yosef Syndrome
• Behcet Disease
• Beta-Thalassemia Major
• Birdshot Chorioretinopathy
• Blau Syndrome
• Blomstrand Lethal Chondrodysplasia
• Bone Fragility With Contractures, Arterial Rupture, And Deafness
• Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann Syndrome
• Brachycephaly, Deafness, Cataract, Microstomia, And Mental Retardation
• Brachymetapody-Anodontia-Hypotrichosis-Albinoidism
• Branchio-Oculo-Facial Syndrome
• Branchiooculofacial Syndrome
• Cardiomyopathy-Cataract-Hip Spine Disease Syndrome
• Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II Deficiency, Lethal Neonatal
• Cataract 15, Multiple Types
• Cataract 35
• Cataract 9, Multiple Types
• Cataract-Aberrant Oral Frenula-Growth Delay Syndrome
• Cataract And Congenital Ichthyosis
• Cataract, Autosomal Recessive Congenital 2
• Cataract, Autosomal Recessive Congenital 4
• Cataract, Crystalline Coralliform
• Cataract-Intellectual Disability-Anal Atresia-Urinary Defects Syndrome
• Cataract-Intellectual Disability-Hypogonadism Syndrome
• Cataract, Juvenile, With Microcornea And Glucosuria
• Cataract, Microcephaly, Failure To Thrive, Kyphoscoliosis Syndrome
• Cataract-Microcornea Syndrome
• Cataract-Nephropathy-Encephalopathy Syndrome
• Cataract, Posterior Polar, 4
• Cataracts, Growth Hormone Deficiency, Sensory Neuropathy, Sensorineural Hearing Loss, And Skeletal Dysplasia
• Cerebellar Ataxia, Mental Retardation, And Dysequilibrium Syndrome1
• Cerebrooculofacioskeletal Syndrome 1
• Cerebrooculofacioskeletal Syndrome 2
• Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis
• Chondrodysplasia Punctata 1, X-Linked Recessive
• Chondrodysplasia Punctata 2, X-Linked Dominant
• Chondrodysplasia Punctata, Autosomal Dominantchondrodysplasia Punctata Due To Vitamin K Deficiency, Included
• Chops Syndrome
• Chorea, Remitting, With Nystagmus And Cataract
• Choreoacanthocytosis
• Chromosome 1p36 Deletion Syndrome
• Classic Galactosemia
• Classic Homocystinuria
• Classic Phenylketonuria
• Clouston Syndrome
• Cloverleaf Skull-Multiple Congenital Anomalies Syndrome
• Coats Disease
• Cochleosaccular Degeneration-Cataract Syndrome
• Cockayne Syndrome
• Cockayne Syndrome A
• Cockayne Syndrome, Type B
• Codas Syndrome
• Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency
• Coffin-Lowry Syndrome
• Coffin-Siris Syndrome
• COFS Syndrome
• Coloboma-Obesity-Hypogenitalism-Mental Retardation Syndrome
• Coloboma, Ocular, With Or Without Hearing Impairment, Cleft Lip/Palate,And/Or Mental Retardation
• Congenital Cataract-Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Mitochondrial Myopathy Syndrome
• Congenital Cataract-Ichthyosis Syndrome
• Congenital Cataracts-Facial Dysmorphism-Neuropathy Syndrome
• Congenital Disorder Of Glycosylation, Type Ii
• Congenital Disorder Of Glycosylation, Type Ij
• Congenital Hypothyroidism
• Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, Fukuyama Type
• Congenital Muscular Dystrophy-Infantile Cataract-Hypogonadism Syndrome
• Congenital Osteogenesis Imperfecta-Microcephaly-Cataracts Syndrome
• Congenital Rubella Syndrome
• Congenital Varicella Syndrome
• Corneal Opacification With Other Ocular Anomalies
• Cornelia De Lange Syndrome
• Cortical Dysplasia, Complex, With Other Brain Malformations 4
• Cowden Disease
• Cowden Syndrome
• Cowden Syndrome 5
• Cowden Syndrome 6
• Craniofacial Abnormalities, Cataracts, Congenital Heart Disease, Sacralneural Tube Defects, And Growth And Developmental Retardation
• Craniosynostosis-Cataract Syndrome
• Craniosynostosis With Ocular Abnormalities And Hallucal Defects
• Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome
• Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome
• Cushing Disease
• Cushing Syndrome
• Cutis Laxa, Autosomal Recessive, Type IIIA
• Dahlberg-Borer-Newcomer Syndrome
• Deafness, Cataract, Retinitis Pigmentosa, And Sperm Abnormalities
• Deafness-Intellectual Disability Syndrome, Martin-Probst Type
• Deafness, Onychodystrophy, Osteodystrophy, Mental Retardation, Andseizures Syndrome
• Dent Disease
• Dermatitis, Atopic
• Developmental Malformations-Deafness-Dystonia Syndrome
• Distal Trisomy 6p
• Donnai-Barrow Syndrome
• Down Syndrome
• Duane-Radial Ray Syndrome
• Dubowitz Syndrome
• Dwarfism With Stiff Joints And Ocular Abnormalities
• Dysequilibrium Syndrome
• Dyskeratosis Congenita
• Dyskeratosis Congenita, X-Linked
• Dystonia, Juvenile-Onset
• Ectodermal Dysplasia-Blindness Syndrome
• Ectodermal Dysplasia Syndrome
• Ectopia Lentis Et Pupillae
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Beasley-Cohen Type
• Embryofetopathy Due To Oral Anticoagulant Therapy
• Encephalopathy, Axonal, With Necrotizing Myopathy, Cardiomyopathy,And Cataracts
• Enhanced S-Cone Syndrome
• Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica, Autosomal Recessive
• Epileptic Encephalopathy, Early Infantile, 35
• Epiphyseal Dysplasia, Multiple, With Myopia And Conductive Deafness
• Epstein Syndrome
• Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis
• Exudative Vitreoretinopathy 6
• Eye Defects-Arachnodactyly-Cardiopathy Syndrome
• Fabry Disease
• Familial Isolated Hypoparathyroidism
• Fanconi Anemia
• Flynn-Aird Syndrome
• Foveal Hypoplasia-Presenile Cataract Syndrome
• Frontofacionasal Dysplasia
• Frontonasal Dysplasia 1
• Galactokinase Deficiency
• Galactose Epimerase Deficiency
• Galactosemia
• Galloway-Mowat Syndrome
• Gorlin Syndrome
• Groenouw Type I Corneal Dystrophy
• Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome
• Harlequin Ichthyosis
• Harrod Syndrome
• Hemorrhagic Destruction Of The Brain, Subependymal Calcification,And Cataracts
• Hereditary Hyperferritinemia With Congenital Cataracts
• Hereditary Leiomyomatosis And Renal Cell Cancer
• Hereditary Mucoepithelial Dysplasia
• Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome
• Hidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia
• Hydrocephaly-Cerebellar Agenesis Syndrome
• Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism-Cataract Syndrome
• Hypertrophic Neuropathy And Cataract
• Hypogonadism-Cataract Syndrome
• Hypomelanosis Of Ito
• Hypoparathyroidism, Familial Isolated
• Incontinentia Pigmenti
• Infantile Refsum Disease
• Infantile Spasms-Broad Thumbs Syndrome
• Intellectual Disability-Cataracts-Calcified Pinnae-Myopathy Syndrome
• Iris Pigment Layer, Cleavage Of
• Isolated Aniridia
• Isolated Ectopia Lentis
• Jacobsen Syndrome
• Joubert Syndrome 9
• Kahrizi Syndrome
• Kapur-Toriello Syndrome
• Kniest Dysplasia
• Knobloch Syndrome
• Koolen-De Vries Syndrome
• Laminopathy Type Decaudain-Vigouroux
• Lathosterolosis
• Laurence-Moon Syndrome
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis 16
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis 6
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis 7
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis 8
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Type I
• Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Type II
• Leiomyomatosis, Diffuse, With Alport Syndrome
• Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, Type 1G
• Linear Verrucous Nevus Syndrome
• Lymphedema-Distichiasis Syndrome
• Lymphedema-Hypoparathyroidism Syndrome
• Mandibuloacral Dysplasia With Type A Lipodystrophy
• Marfan Syndrome
• Marshall Syndrome
• Martsolf Syndrome
• Maternally-Inherited Diabetes And Deafness
• Maternal Uniparental Disomy Of Chromosome 1
• Meckel Syndrome
• Megalocornea
• MELAS
• Mend Syndrome
• Mental Retardation, Enteropathy, Deafness, Peripheral Neuropathy,Ichthyosis, And Keratoderma
• Mental Retardation, Truncal Obesity, Retinal Dystrophy, And Micropenis
• Metatropic Dysplasia
• Methylmalonate Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency
• Mevalonic Aciduria
• Microcephalic Osteodysplastic Dysplasia, Saul-Wilson Type
• Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism, Toriello Type
• Microcephaly 10, Primary, Autosomal Recessive
• Microcephaly And Chorioretinopathy, Autosomal Recessive, 1
• Microcephaly And Chorioretinopathy, Autosomal Recessive, 2
• Microcephaly, Growth Retardation, Cataract, Hearing Loss, And Unusualappearance
• Microcephaly-Microcornea Syndrome, Seemanova Type
• Microphthalmia, Isolated 5
• Microphthalmia, Isolated, With Cataract 1
• Microphthalmia, Isolated, With Coloboma 3
• Microphthalmia, Lenz Type
• Microphthalmia, Syndromic 5
• Microphthalmia, Syndromic 7
• Microphthalmia With Brain And Digit Anomalies
• Micro Syndrome
• Miller-Dieker Lissencephaly Syndrome
• Mitochondrial Complex III Deficiency, Nuclear Type 1
• Mitochondrial Complex V (ATP Synthase) Deficiency, Nuclear Type 2
• Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome 12 (Cardiomyopathic Type)
• Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome 13 (Encephalomyopathic Type)
• Monilethrix
• Monosomy 13q14
• Monosomy 9q22.3
• Morning Glory Syndrome
• Mosaic Variegated Aneuploidy Syndrome
• Mosaic Variegated Aneuploidy Syndrome 1
• Moyamoya Disease 4 With Short Stature, Hypergonadotropic Hypogonadism,And Facial Dysmorphism
• Mucoepithelial Dysplasia, Hereditary
• Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 3
• Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia, Beighton Type
• Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency
• Muscle-Eye-Brain Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy, Congenital, With Infantile Cataract And Hypogonadism
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eye Anomalies), Type A, 1
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eyeanomalies), Type A, 11
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eye Anomalies), Type A, 12
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eyeanomalies), Type A, 2
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eyeanomalies), Type A, 3
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eye Anomalies), Type A, 4
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eyeanomalies), Type A, 6
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eyeanomalies), Type A, 7
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Brain And Eye Anomalies), Type A, 9
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Congenital With Mental Retardation), Type B, 14
• Muscular Dystrophy-Dystroglycanopathy (Limb-Girdle), Type C, 14
• Muscular Dystrophy, Limb-Girdle, Type 2S
• Myopathy, Mitochondrial Progressive, With Congenital Cataract, Hearingloss, And Developmental Delay
• Myopathy, Myofibrillar, 2, MFM2
• Myopia, High, With Cataract And Vitreoretinal Degeneration
• Myotonic Dystrophy 1
• Nail-Patella Syndrome
• Nance-Horan Syndrome
• Nathalie Syndrome
• Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy
• Neu-Laxova Syndrome
• Neuraminidase Deficiency
• Neurofibromatosis Type 1
• Neurofibromatosis Type 2
• Nevus Comedonicus Syndrome
• Non-Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata
• Norrie Disease
• Oculoauricular Syndrome
• Oculocerebral Hypopigmentation Syndrome, Cross Type
• Oculocerebral Hypopigmentation Syndrome Of Preus
• Oculocerebral Hypopigmentation Syndrome, Preus Type
• Oculocerebrorenal Syndrome Of Lowe
• Oculodentodigital Dysplasia
• Oculodentodigital Dysplasia, Autosomal Recessive
• Oculofaciocardiodental Syndrome
• Oculorenocerebellar Syndrome
• Optic Atrophy 3, Autosomal Dominant
• Optic Disc Anomalies With Retinal And/Or Macular Dystrophy
• Osteoporosis-Pseudoglioma Syndrome
• Otopalatodigital Syndrome Type 2
• Pachyonychia Congenita
• Pallister-Killian Syndrome
• Papillorenal Syndrome
• Pellagra-Like Skin Rash-Neurological Manifestations Syndrome
• Pellagra-Like Syndrome
• Peroxisomal Fatty ACYL-CoA Reductase 1 Disorder
• Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorder 1A (Zellweger)
• Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorder 2A (Zellweger)
• Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorder 5A (Zellweger)
• Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorder 8B
• Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorder 9B
• Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous, Autosomal Recessive
• Peters Plus Syndrome
• Peters-Plus Syndrome
• Phace Syndrome
• Phenylketonuria
• Poikiloderma, Hereditary Fibrosing, With Tendon Contractures, Myopathy, And Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Polycystic Kidney, Cataract, And Congenital Blindness
• Polyposis, Skin Pigmentation, Alopecia, And Fingernail Changes
• Premature Aging Syndrome, Okamoto Type
• Primary Cutis Verticis Gyrata
• Progeroid Short Stature With Pigmented Nevi
• Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia With Mitochondrial DNA Deletions, Autosomal Dominant 1
• Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia With Mitochondrial DNA Deletions,Autosomal Dominant, 3
• Proteus-Like Syndrome
• Proteus Syndrome
• Proximal Myotonic Myopathy
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1A
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1B
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1C
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism, Type IA
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism, Type IC
• Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
• Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Inversa
• Refsum Disease
• Relapsing Polychondritis
• Renal Tubular Acidosis, Proximal, With Ocular Abnormalities And Mentalretardation
• Renpenning Syndrome 1
• Retinal Ciliopathy Due To Mutation In Usher Gene
• Retinitis Pigmentosa
• Retinitis Pigmentosa 2
• Retinitis Pigmentosa 37
• Retinitis Pigmentosa 4
• Retinitis Pigmentosa 9
• Retinitis Pigmentosa-Intellectual Disability-Deafness-Hypogenitalism Syndrome
• Retinopathy, Pigmentary, And Mental Retardation
• Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata
• Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, Type 2
• Roberts Syndrome
• Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome Type 1
• Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome Type 2
• Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome 1
• Sarcoidosis
• Scalp-Ear-Nipple Syndrome
• Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome
• Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome, Type 1
• Senior-Loken Syndrome
• Sensory Ataxic Neuropathy, Dysarthria, And Ophthalmoparesis
• Short Rib-Polydactyly Syndrome, Verma-Naumoff Type
• Short-Rib Thoracic Dysplasia 5 With Or Without Polydactyly
• Short Stature, Microcephaly, And Endocrine Dysfunction
• Short Syndrome
• Sialidosis Type 1
• Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome
• Spastic Paraparesis And Deafness
• Spastic Paraparesis-Deafness Syndrome
• Spastic Paraplegia 26, Autosomal Recessive
• Spastic Paraplegia 46, Autosomal Recessive
• Spastic Paraplegia 9A, Autosomal Dominant
• Spastic Paraplegia 9B, Autosomal Recessive
• Split-Hand With Congenital Nystagmus, Fundal Changes, And Cataracts
• Sponastrime Dysplasia
• Spondylocarpotarsal Synostosis Syndrome
• Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita
• Spondylo-Ocular Syndrome
• Steinert Myotonic Dystrophy
• Stickler Syndrome
• Stickler Syndrome Type 1
• Stickler Syndrome Type 2
• Stickler Syndrome, Type I
• Stickler Syndrome, Type II
• Stomatin-Deficient Cryohydrocytosis With Neurologic Defects
• Synovitis, Granulomatous, With Uveitis And Cranial Neuropathies
• Tetraamelia, Autosomal Recessive
• Tetraamelia-Multiple Malformations Syndrome
• Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Glasgow Variant
• Thumb, Hypoplastic, With Choroid Coloboma, Poorly Developed Antihelix,And Deafness
• Townes-Brocks Syndrome
• Treacher-Collins Syndrome
• Trichomegaly
• Trichothiodystrophy 3, Photosensitive
• Trichothiodystrophy, Photosensitive
• Triploidy
• Trisomy 13
• Trisomy 17p
• Trisomy 18
• Upper Limb Defect-Eye And Ear Abnormalities Syndrome
• Usher Syndrome
• Usher Syndrome Type 1
• Usher Syndrome Type 2
• Usher Syndrome Type 3
• Uveal Coloboma-Cleft Lip And Palate-Intellectual Disability
• Vici Syndrome
• Vitreoretinal Degeneration, Snowflake Type
• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
• Von Hippel-Lindau Disease
• Wagner Vitreoretinopathy
• WAGR Syndrome
• Warburg Micro Syndrome 2
• Warburg Micro Syndrome 3
• Weill-Marchesani Syndrome
• Weill-Marchesani Syndrome, Autosomal Dominant
• Weill-Marchesani Syndrome, Autosomal Recessive
• Werner Syndrome
• Williams Syndrome
• Woolly Hair
• Woolly Hair-Hypotrichosis-Everted Lower Lip-Outstanding Ears Syndrome
• Xeroderma Pigmentosum
• Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Complementation Group B
• Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Complementation Group G
• X-Linked Dominant Chondrodysplasia Punctata
• X-Linked Intellectual Disability, Armfield Type
• X-Linked Intellectual Disability, Najm Type
• X-Linked Retinoschisis
• Yunis-Varon Syndrome
• Zellweger Syndrome
• Zimmermann-Laband Syndrome 1

Causes List for Cataracts

Some of the possible causes of Cataracts or similar disorders may include:¹¹

• ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma (Cataract)
• ALG2-CDG syndrome (Cataract)
• ALG8-CDG syndrome (Cataract)
• Ablepharon macrostomia syndrome (Opacification of the corneal ...

... Full Causes List for Cataracts »

Genetics of Cataracts

Genes and genetic conditions Cataracts present from birth (congenital cataracts) are sometimes caused by a faulty gene being passed to a child from their parents. This fault means that the lens doesn't develop properly. It's estimated that there's a family history ...¹²

... More on Genetics »

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References

1. Source: NEI (NIH): nei.nih.gov/ health/ cataract
2. Source: NEI (NIH): nei.nih.gov/ health/ cataract/ cataract_facts
3. Source: NIH News in Health (NIH): newsinhealth.nih.gov/ issue/ aug2013/ feature2
4. Source: New Zealand Health: health.govt.nz/ your-health/ conditions-and-treatments/ diseases-and-illnesses/ eye-and-vision-problems/ cataracts
5. Source: NHS Choices UK: nhs.uk/ conditions/ cataracts/ 
6. ibid.
7. Source: NHS Choices UK: nhs.uk/ conditions/ childhood-cataracts/ 
8. Source: NHS Choices UK: nhs.uk/ conditions/ childhood-cataracts/ causes/ 
9. Source: NHS Choices UK: nhs.uk/ conditions/ marfan-syndrome/ symptoms/ 
10. Source: Human Phenotype Ontology
11. Source: Algorithmically Generated List
12. Source: NHS Choices UK: nhs.uk/ conditions/ childhood-cataracts/ causes/ 

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Note: This site is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. See your doctor or other qualified medical professional for all your medical needs.