This eye condition is referred to as a cataract. Some causes of cataracts include aging, diabetes, heavy metal poisoning, exposure to radiation, injury to the eye, and the use of certain drugs, such as steroids. The main symptom of a developing cataract is a gradual, painless loss of vision.
Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world.
Occasionally, a cataract may swell and cause secondary glaucoma. The most common form of cataracts is senile cataracts, which affect people over sixty-five. This type of cataract is often caused by free radical damage. These free radicals attack the structural proteins, enzymes, and cell membranes of the lens. The free radicals in our food, water, and environment are probably a major factor in the increasing number of cataracts in our population.