13 Risk Factors Of Cataracts You Need To Read

CATARACTS are changes in clarity of the natural lens inside the eye that gradually degrade visual quality. The natural lens sits behind the colored part of the eye (iris) in the area of the pupil, and cannot be directly seen with the naked eye unless it becomes extremely cloudy.

Experts have estimated that visual disability associated with cataracts accounts for over 8 million physician office visits a year in the United States. This number will likely continue to increase as the proportion of people over the age of 60 rises.

When people develop cataracts, they begin to have difficulty doing activities they need to do for daily living or for enjoyment. Some of the most common complaints include difficulty driving at night, reading, participating in sports such as golfing, or traveling to unfamiliar areas.

Types of cataracts include:

1.     A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens. People with diabetes or those taking high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing a subcapsular cataract.

2.     A nuclear cataract forms deep in the central zone (nucleus) of the lens. Nuclear cataracts usually are associated with aging.

3.     A cortical cataract is characterized by white, wedge-like opacities that start in the periphery of the lens and work their way to the center in a spoke-like fashion. This type of cataract occurs in the lens cortex, which is the part of the lens that surrounds the central nucleus.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

•        Clouded, blurred or dim vision

•        Increasing difficulty with vision at night

•        Sensitivity to light and glare

•        Need for brighter light for reading and other activities

•        Seeing "halos" around lights

•        Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

•        Fading or yellowing of colors

•        Double vision in a single eye

Cataract Risk Factors

Besides advancing age, cataract risk factors include:

•        Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and other sources

•        Diabetes

•        Hypertension

•        Obesity

•        Smoking

•        Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications

•        Statin medicines used to reduce cholesterol

•        Previous eye injury or inflammation

•        Previous eye surgery

•        Hormone replacement therapy

•        Significant alcohol consumption

•        High myopia

•        Family history

One theory of cataract formation that's gaining favor is that many cataracts are caused by oxidative changes in the human lens. This is supported by nutrition studies that show fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants may help prevent certain types of cataracts.

How to Prevent Cataracts

Take a good multivitamin. Those taking multivitamins, especially those with high concentrations of antioxidants, had a 27 percent decreased risk of developing cataracts.

Supplement with vitamins A and C: Vitamins A and C are antioxidants that are highly concentrated in the eyes and help protect against the onslaught of free radicals, which is important if you want to prevent cataracts and promote healthy vision. The recommended daily dosages are: 5,000 IU of vitamin A (as beta-carotene) and 2,500 mg of vitamin C.

Make sure you’re getting enough lutein and zeaxanthin: A 2008 study found that older women who had the highest levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were about a third less likely to have cataracts. I recommend taking 15–30 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin daily.

Take bilberry: Bilberry acts as a vasodilator, increasing blood flow to the vasculature of the eyes, and increases tissue and capillary wall strength. In one study of 50 patients with cataracts, it stopped the progression of the cataracts in 97 percent of the cases. The recommended daily dose is a minimum of 30 mg of a bilberry extract standardized to contain 25 percent anthocyanidins.

Take off your sunglasses: There’s no doubt that excessive exposure to ultraviolet light (UV) can damage your eyes. Specficially, it can cause the conjunctiva, which covers the whites of your eyes, to thicken, thereby contributing to the development of cataracts and retinal damage. But wearing sunglasses all the time blocks wavelengths of light that not only nourish the eyes but are essential for overall good health. So let a little sun in your eyes, and make sure you’re getting your antioxidants.