Cataracts
Causes, Symptoms & Natural Support Strategies
by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center
Cataracts are a common eye condition that typically develops after the age of 55. More than 25 million people, or nearly 20 percent, of Americans aged 40 or over have cataracts in one or both eyes. Cataracts develop and progress in stages, and may be increased by a variety of dietary, lifestyle, and health factors, including nutrient deficiencies, smoking, environmental toxicity, and diabetes.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract is an eye condition that is characterized by a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eyes. The lens of your eyes refracts light rays to help you to see. If your eyes are healthy, the lens is clear, and the image you see is clear as well. However, if you have cataracts, it may feel like you are looking through a foggy window or dusty windshield. Things may seem hazy, blurry, or less colorful. Driving, reading, or seeing people’s faces may become difficult.
Cataracts tend to develop slowly. At first, they may not disturb your vision much, but with time, they become a problem. In the early stages, eyeglasses and stronger lighting may do the trick, but eventually, cataract surgery may become necessary.
Stages of Cataracts
Cataracts progress through different stages. Symptoms worsen as the cataract increases in each stage. The four stages of cataracts include:
Early Cataract
This stage is the beginning of cataract development. Your lenses are still clear. For the most part, you may see very well; however, you may notice that your ability to change focus from near to far or vice versa has started to decrease. You may notice some cloudiness or blurring. You may feel a bit of an eye strain, and the lights may start to bother you.
Immature Cataract
In this stage, you will notice more cloudiness or an opaque vision as proteins have started to cloud your lens. Your eye doctor may recommend anti-glare glasses and to avoid bright sunlight or too much light that may bother you. In most cases, it takes several years to progress to this stage.
Mature Cataract
This is a more serious stage, where things may start to turn opaque, white, milky, or amber. You will likely notice serious vision changes as cataracts have started to spread to the edges of your lens. Mature cataracts may interfere with your daily activities and quality of life. At this stage, your eye doctor may recommend cataract-removal surgery.
Hypermature Cataract
This is the most serious stage, where the cataract is already very dense, seriously impairing your vision and interfering with your life. It may increase the risk of inflammation, pressure within the eye, and glaucoma.
Major Symptoms of Cataracts
The major symptoms of cataracts include:
Cloudy, fuzzy, or blurry vision;
Deteriorating night vision;
Noticing a glare from bright sunlight, headlights, or lamps;
Seeing a halo around lights;
Noticing that colors seem faded or not being able to notice changes in color brightness;
Double or multiple vision; and
A frequent need to change your prescription for glasses or contacts.
These symptoms may not be present at the early stage of cataract, which is mainly characterized by slight blurriness or difficulty changing focus from near to far. Existing symptoms progress and new symptoms develop at each stage. By the time you develop mature cataracts, you will notice significant blurriness and vision changes. It is important that you understand these symptoms, so you can catch cataracts or other vision problems early.
Possible Causes of Cataracts
Cataracts are often caused and worsened by certain dietary, lifestyle, and health factors. Understanding these potential root causes of cataracts may help you to reduce your risk of the disease or delay its progression.
Poor Diet & Lifestyle
An anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense and mineral-rich diet; regular exercise; stress management; reducing chemical exposure; and other healthy lifestyle choices are all critical for maintaining health and preventing disease.
A 10-year study on over 2,400 older adults supported this finding that antioxidants may reduce the risk of cataracts. Another study on the dietary habits and eye health of 1,600 adults has found that a diet high in carbohydrates may increase the risk of cataracts. Further research discovered that a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly lutein and zeaxanthin, may delay the development of cataracts.
Eating a poor diet loaded with refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, refined oil, processed foods, and junk food, while not eating enough greens, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and clean protein, puts your body at risk of inflammation. One study on 30,000 women, aged 49 and over, has found a link between having enough antioxidants in one’s diet and cataracts.
Chronic stress, a sedentary lifestyle, poor sleep, and exposure to chemicals may also increase your risk of chronic inflammation. Cigarette smoke contains 4,700 chemicals and is incredibly toxic to your body; it increases oxidation and inflammation in your body, and may increase your risk of cataracts.
Chronic Inflammation & Cataracts
Chronic inflammation may develop because of chronic poor dietary and lifestyle habits, too much stress, and chemical exposure.
Chronic inflammation puts too much stress on your eyes, may compromise your vision, and may increase your chance of cataracts or accelerate the progress of the condition.
Hypertension & Cataracts
Hypertension puts extra strain on your arteries, as well as your heart, and puts your body at risk of health issues in the future.
Hypertension may put too much pressure on your heart and cause damage to your retina, swelling of the macula, black eye, and cataracts.
Diabetes & Cataracts
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects about 30 million people, or over 9 percent of the population in the United States. It affects your body’s ability to use or produce insulin effectively to control your glucose levels.
The problem with untreated diabetes is that too much glucose in your blood for a long time can affect many parts of your body and your overall health.
Research has found that cataracts are one of the main complications of diabetes, as well as the leading cause of blindness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 90 percent of vision loss due to diabetes can be prevented with the help of early detection and annual eye exams.
Too Much Screen Time on
Devices
Technology has its benefits; however, too much screen time can be damaging. It is important that you protect your eyes and only use technology when necessary.
Sunlight has a variety of lights, including blue. Blue light has more energy and shorter wavelengths and is more harmful to your eyes.
Different sources of blue light include computer monitors, tablet screens, smartphones, fluorescent light, LED light, and flat screen LED televisions. Spending too much time on the screens of your devices is incredibly tiring for your eyes.
Research has shown that blue light may also have long-term negative effects, including premature aging of your eyes.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies are one of the main factors behind premature aging, age-related disease, macular degeneration, and cataracts. There are several specific nutrients that have been linked to cataracts and other eye conditions listed below.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the most critical vitamins when it comes to your eye health. Research has linked vitamin A and β-carotene to the reduction of eye issues and cataracts.
Vitamin D
Research has found that vitamin D may help to lower the risk of age-related nuclear cataracts and dry-eye syndrome, which is often a factor in the development of cataracts.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats found in fish, seafood, algae, chia seeds, flax seeds, and hemp seeds. They are incredibly anti-inflammatory, and may help to prevent a variety of health issues.
The omega 3 fats that are most beneficial are the long-chain EPA and DHA, which are found in fish and seafood. A prospective study on 71,083 women has found that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids helped to lower the risk of cataract extraction by 12 percent.
Carotenoids
Lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids and are some of the most common nutrients known for eye health. They are both full of anti-inflammatory properties and may help to prevent cataracts.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are responsible for the vivid colors in fruits and vegetables and are also critical for your health and well-being. A population-based case-control study (249 cases and 66 controls) has found that the intake of flavonoids, in particular, quercetin, may reduce the risk of age-related cataracts.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for reducing the risk of inflammation and age-related diseases. It may also be critical to your eye health. One rat study has found that a zinc-enriched diet for six weeks helped to reduce the progression and maturation of diabetes-induced cataract.
If you are struggling with health issues, call the Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center at 240-651-1650 for a free consultation. Dr. Lo uses Nutritional Response Testing® to analyze the body to determine the underlying causes of ill or non-optimum health. The office is located at 7310 Grove Road #107, Frederick, MD. Check out the website at doctorlo.com.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye, which leads to a decrease in vision.
Source: Drjockers.com.
