Secondary cataracts are cataracts that are not brought about as a result of the aging process of a person. It is not a result of any prenatal malformation before birth either. This type of cataract can form after surgery for other eye problems, such as glaucoma.
An eye surgery utilizes an opthalmic microscope for clearer imaging.

Secondary cataract can also develop in people who have other health problems, such as diabetes, or as a result of deficiency in protein, such as the nutritional cataract.

Cataracts are sometimes linked to medications such as in steroid use. The longer the usage of the drug and the higher the dosage will more likely increase the tendency for the development of the disease.  The degree of cataract impairment may be ascertained with the use of an opthalmic microscope.

Cataracts can also be brought about by other eye infections, especially infections affecting the eyes anterior chamber or aqueous fluid. Other types of cataract belonging to this category are traumatic cataracts. These types of cataracts are brought about by a blow to the eye, or other penetrating eye injury. Traumatic cataracts can develop after an eye injury, or sometimes, it takes several years later for it to show.

Metabolic cataract is another type, which is a result of an imbalance in the body’s hormones or body chemicals. One example of this is the diabetic cataract.

Yet another, we have the radiation cataract, a type of cataract resultant from radiation exposure, or from radiation therapy in cancer patients or other medical treatments involving radiation.

Some would also classify cataracts into nuclear cataract, cortical cataract, and subcapsular cataract. The nuclear cataract is most commonly seen type of cataract as it forms. This cataract forms in the nucleus, or the center of the lens. This cataract type is found to be due to natural aging changes. The cortical cataract forms in the lens cortex. It then gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop these cortical cataracts. The subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens of the eye. People who have diabetes, who have high farsightedness, or have eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa or those taking high doses of steroids may develop a subcapsular cataract.  In order to discover the origin of such cataracts, some type of opthalmic microscope is used by the specialist.