Cataract

[john41003]

In Nov 06 I had a minor car accident. Airbags deployed but no eye trauma or injury. I went to get glasses after the accident and there were no problems. By Oct 07, I had a full blown cataract in the left eye and one starting in the right eye. I had surgery done in Nov 07 and everything is fine. Now my right eye is getting cloudy so I think its time to go back and get the right eye done. I am 37 years old.

My question is how can a cataract develop so fast? I went to my primary doctor and he found nothing. All my doctors are kind of taking this lightly saying I just have bad genetics. I fear that I may have a disease or something causing this. What should I have my primary doctor look for? Anything disease that may be rare or out of the ordinary I should test for. Thanks!

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

It is possible that the air bag hit your eyes very hard and just made the cataracts develop a little soon than expected.  You may also just have genetic factors - believe me it is not at all unusual and we operate on people your age every few weeks.  You might want to make sure you don't have diabetes or take steroid injections or pills or inhalers.  As these things can cause cataracts.  If you are a smoker and drinker and are overweight and unhealty then that can also contribute.  That's about it.

MJK MD

[john41003]

Thanks for the information! The fact that the cataracts developed so fast had me worried. I do not have diabetes or any of the other factors. Thanks again.