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Cataracts: Inevitable or Avoidable?
The lens of the eye focuses light from objects onto the retina.
The lens pushes the old focusing fibers into the center, causing
haziness or a film. Because the lens has neither nerves nor blood
vessels, it depends on the internal flow of fluid inside the
eye (aqueous humor) to provide oxygen and nutrients, and to remove
toxic products.
The lens focuses light constantly, from distant objects to
near objects. Some of the light wavelengths, such as ultraviolet
light, are especially toxic. UV light creates more free radicals,
which will accelerate the clouding of the lens over the years.
Any clouding of the lens is a cataract (not cataracts).
A cataract may be central (called nuclear); peripheral (on younger
fibers near the outer edge of the lens); or sub-capsular (at
the very front or very back of the lens).
The number one cause of blindness in the world is cataracts,
and it is preventable, as well as treatable.
Symptoms of cataracts include hazy vision, glare, difficulty
focusing on the printed page, rapid eye fatigue, even double
vision. Some people will develop second sight, meaning, that
as they grow older, they may see better without their glasses,
because the cataract is actually changing the prescription of
the eye. Always check to see if your glasses can be improved.
We're led to believe that everyone will develop cataracts.
That is not true. We also are told that once you have them they
get worse. That is usually true, but only because people continue
the same lifestyle and habits which lead to the formation of
cataracts in the first place. However, you can use nutrition
and lifestyle changes to stop and even reverse cataracts.
Ask your eye doctor if he or she has ever seen a patient whose
cataracts have stopped. I know they have. Yet doctors often tell
people nothing will stop cataracts. This is often not true.
Let's take a look at the causes and treatment of cataracts.
- Sunlight, especially UV light, is a major cause, especially
if your body has a low antioxidant bank account. So ask for UV
blockers in your sunglasses but also in your glasses.
- Dehydration can hasten the development of cataracts. Drink
six to eight glasses of water per day to combat this. Sodas,
iced tea and coffee do not fulfill this requirement.
- Keep alcohol use to moderate amounts of red or white wine.
- Heredity and age are also factors, but ones that we cannot
do much about, except to focus on other lifestyle changes.
- Smoking and second-hand smoke are known factors of many ailments.
This is beyond argument. STOP smoking, and avoid smoky environments.
- Obesity has been identified in recent studies as a factor
in the development of cataracts. Develop a diet and exercise
program to combat obesity. Limit sugar intake, eat lots of raw
vegetables and salads, and drink lots of water to satisfy your
hunger.
- Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis (and the
medications that go with them) can contribute to the formation
of cataracts. For example, cholesterol-lowering drugs frequently
speed up the formation of cataracts by virtue of their effect
on the liver. Cortisone, used in arthritis and lung disease treatment,
will also create cataracts with longterm use. Ask your doctor
if your dose can be decreased or eliminated, or if there are
any other natural means of controlling or treating these conditions.
- There are more than 300 commonly prescribed medications that
speed up cataract formation when coupled with sunlight exposure.
Ask your pharmacist about your medication. Wear your sunglasses
to eliminate this possibility so you don't have to discontinue
necessary medications.
- Estrogen apparently has a protective effect. Studies show
women are almost twice as likely as men to develop cataracts
after the age of 50. We are still waiting for a better designer
estrogen that can give us the good effects without increasing
the chance of breast or uterine cancer.
- Protect against injuries, at home, play or in the workplace.
Remember children's safety, and select their toys wisely.
Symptoms should determine whether cataract surgery is necessary
and not just the physician's judgment alone. You need a good
examination with a refraction. Remember that the refraction is
not paid for under many medical insurance policies, but a refraction
is the only way to learn if glasses will improve your vision.
I have found nine out of 10 people can be improved at distance
or near. Sometimes that is not enough and surgery is necessary.
If you do have to have surgery, modern cataract surgical procedures
are excellent. Eyedrops are used as anesthetics, and rarely are
any stitches needed. It is performed with high-speed sound. We
do not do surgery yet with a laser, but we do use a laser to
open an after-cataract membrane. In 20 to 30 percent of cases
this membrane will develop over the years.
Surgery, however, is not the only remedy, especially if your
only problem is glare around headlights at night. Some of these
other items I have found very useful:
- Diet and exercise: All new adventures in health start
with diet and exercise. Drink plenty of water, have 30 minutes
of exercise a day. Reduce the bad fats, alcohol, smoking, refined
sugars and antacids.
- Supplements: I recommend a multivitamin with lutein
twice daily, and a B complex (such as B 50) is useful. Also useful
is an essential fatty acid, such as DHA 500 mg taken twice daily
with meals, unless you are on blood thinners. Vitamin A is probably
in your multivitamin, but additional vitamin E may be necessary
to bring you up to 400 to 800 IU a day. Vitamin C is an important
antioxidant in the lens, and should be supplemented by at least
1000 mg a day.
- Sulfur: Glutathione is a major antioxidant in the
lens. It can be augmented by taking sulfur-containing foods such
as onions, avocados, eggs, asparagus or garlic. N-acetyl cysteine
(NAC) contains sulfur. NAC can be used as a supplement, but occurs
naturally in red meat (organic, preferably.) Six hundred mg of
NAC once or twice a day is an excellent glutathione booster,
as is Alpha-Lipoic Acid, MSM (methanylsulfonylmethane). Even
wine has sulfur, which is used as a natural control of fermentation.
It may soon be shown that wine decreases the incidence of cataracts
as well as macular degeneration.
- Quercitin: A bioflavinoid, found in red onions and
other fruits and vegetables. It is able to stop cataracts induced
by diabetes, cortisone or radiation in laboratory animals. Therefore,
it should be added to your diet. Tumeric, a common kitchen spice,
has been used in Asia to prevent cataracts.
- Drug inventory: Check your medications and go over
them with your pharmacist to see if any of them are photosensitizing
drugs.
- Get enough sleep: Nighttime (darkness) is when your
eyes get a chance to rest and to heal. They have een bombarded
by light and the formation of free radicals all day, and this
is the opportunity for the liver and other parts of the body
to send the necessary antioxidants and minerals to replenish
the tissues of the eyes.
A number of experimental options are being evaluated because
the cataract epidemic is global. Pyruvate, a substance produced
by the breakdown of glucose, and several Indian herbs are receiving
much interest. As soon as there is clinical information about
safety and usefulness for cataract treatment, it will appear
on this site.
Find a way to check your own vision, in your house, or in
your yard, or by reading, and then check it periodically. Do
not take medications if not necessary. If your only problem is
a decrease in night vision, try bilberry, 100 mg in the evening,
before dark. Or, if you are not diabetic, eat fresh or frozen
blueberries. And by the way, keep using your eyes.
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