Cataracts are cloudy areas that form on the lens of the eye, making vision blurry, hazy, or less colorful. Most cataracts develop due to natural changes in the eye as a person ages, when the proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down and clump together. Other factors that can increase the risk of developing cataracts include:

• Family history of cataracts
• Diabetes
• Eye injury or surgery
• Long-term use of steroid medicines
• Exposure to radiation

Certain disorders passed down from parents that cause other health problems can also increase the risk of cataracts. In addition, some babies are born with cataracts, and some children develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. However, cataracts cannot spread from one eye to another.