Cataracts

Prevention and Management of Cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world. In the United States, cataracts are the major cause of vision loss, but, due to the high level of care available to us, it is possible to manage cataracts with research-proven nutritional supplementation and natural lifestyle changes. Cataracts can not only be prevented, but can even be reversed through nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle changes.

Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision.

See self-help recommendations.
See nutritional product information.
See client comments.

Cataracts can best be described as an opaque spot on the lens of the eye that cannot be seen through. At best, you seem to be looking through a cloud or a haze that can vary in size, density, and location. The effect a cataract has on your vision will also vary. Many people experience a general reduction in vision at first; they need more light to read by, or they have difficulty with street signs when they're driving. A cataract can also effect depth perception. This can be a particular danger to older people who risk greater injury from falls and accidents.

Symptoms

Blurry vision, especially in bright light
Loss of night vision
Cloudiness on the eye lens
Requiring more light for reading
Getting tired when reading
Difficulty judging distances or steps
Seeing halos, particularly in sunlight
Glasses always seem dirty

Can-C Eye Drops

"... my eye specialist told me last April that I had cataracts on both eyes and that the right one needed to be removed as soon as possible. I then ordered Can-C eye drops from you and after using them in my right eye for a little over 2 months, strictly as recommended, I went to a different Optometrist who told me that he could not see any cataract in my right eye. When I get the new batch of drops I will use them in my left eye but keep up maintenance dose for my right eye." -- Bernard E. 9/22/2011

"Yesterday, my eye doctor, Dr. Jo Johnson, ophthalmologist, looked into my left eye and said: "Surprising!" She looked into my right eye and said: "This is a surprise! Good news! No surgery is indicated." I said: "That's because I take the cineraria." We had talked about this previously. -- V. Hatch 03/20/2009

more reviews about cataracts products...

Nutritional Supplements for Cataracts

These are the most important supplements and recommendations for cataracts.

Shopping Tips

On a tight budget?

Here's our single most important recommendation:
Doctor's Choice: Can-C Eyedrops (two-5ml vials) (see multiple box discount offers below) - Can-C Eyedrops (two-5ml vials) (see multiple box discount offers) with 1% N-Acetyl-Carnosine.

Essential: Can-C Eyedrops (two-5ml vials) (see multiple box discount offers below) - Can-C Eyedrops (two-5ml vials) (see multiple box discount offers) with 1% N-Acetyl-Carnosine.

Essential: Cineraria Cataract Eye Drops (15ml bottle) - Cineraria Eye Drops for Clear Crystalline Lens (15ml bottle)

Essential: Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (AEV) - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision (whole food) Support Formula - 60 vcaps per bottle

Essential: Dr. Grossman's Advanced Lens Support Formula (ADVLENS) - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Lens Support Formula (ADVLENS)

Essential: Vitamin C Complex 1000mg 120 vcaps (CCOM2) - Vitamin C Complex 1000mg 120 vcaps (CCOM2)

Helpful: MSM Eyedrops 1 oz (30ml) - contains natural occurring sulfur found in eggs and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower - has natural anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties.

Helpful: VisionTone Formula - Vision Tone Formula is based on the classic Chinese formula Six-Ingredient Pill

Causes of Cataracts

Free radicals, the natural byproducts of metabolism, are responsible for most cataracts. These highly reactive chemicals cause oxidation, which in turn causes aging. As the lens of the eye ages, it hardens and loses its ability to focus. This process is similar to hardening of the arteries, and is often associated with changes in the joints.
Chronic physical stress such as dental problems, physical injury to the vertebrae or neck, or any stress that reduces eye movement and increases muscle tension.
Food allergies or sensitivities, particularly involving dairy products, wheat and/or soy can congest the sinuses, impairing lymphatic and veinous drainage and result in a decrease in nutrients that reach the eyes.
Toxins, pharmaceutical drug side effects, such as steroid drugs, or photosensitizing drugs such as gout medications, cholesterol lowering drugs, antibiotics and diuretics.
Smoking: the risk in ex-smokers is 50% higher compared to non-smokers. Each cigarette smoked robs the body of 25 mg of vitamin C. Smokers have increased lipids in their systems (both fat and cholesterol) which increase the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. These factors produce narrowing of the retina blood vessels that carry valuable nutrients to the eye.
Diabetes and other diseases that affect multiple areas of the body such as hypertension, arthritis, and heart disease. Diabetics develop cataracts at an earlier age than non- diabetics. An accumulation of sorbitol and fructose in the lens can induce osmotic swelling of the lens, which will lead to the development of a cataract.
Poor nutrition and digestion: nutritional deficiencies, especially common in developing nations, can cause cataracts to develop early and progress faster. In every part of the world, people with poor digestion and chronic bowel problems have a fourfold higher incidence of cataracts.
Heredity
Aging of the Eyes: hardening of the lens occurs as we age.
Sunlight includes invisible ultraviolet light (UV light) that promotes free-radical damage to the lens. The effects of UV light are cumulative over time.
Alcoholic Consumption: High intake of alcohol more than doubles the risk of developing cataracts. More than 7 drinks per week will increase the risk, while more moderate use does not seem to increase the risk.
What Supplements Do Help?

These drugs can cause or worsen cataracts: (also see "Drugs That Harm the Eyes" for a more complete list of harmful drugs:)

Photosensitizing drugs

Photosensitizing drugs (drugs that make you more sensitive to the sun) are drugs that absorb light energy and undergo a photochemical reaction resulting in chemical modification of tissue. They can make you more susceptible to cataracts and macular degeneration. Among the more common photosensitizing drugs:

Antihistamines
Birth control pills
Tranquilizers
Sulfa drugs
Oral anti-diabetic drugs
Antidepressants
NSAIDS (for example ibuprofen, advil, meclofen).
Steroids, which may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts. Steroids work by mimicking the action of the body's own hormones to help control inflammation. They are usually prescribed for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease,and lupus. Long-term steroid use can cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and increases in intraocular pressure. These cataracts will develop in up to 50% of people who take daily doses of 10 to 15 milligrams of prednisone over a period of one to two years. Cataracts caused by steroids are very dense and can cause a rapid loss of vision. They will not go away even after you stop the medication and require surgical removal. Though not as common as the development of cataracts, another side effect of sustained steroid treatment is increased intraocular pressure, which can lead to glaucoma. If one stops taking steroids regularly his or her intraocular pressure will return to normal, but, unfortunately, any damage done by the sustained elevated eye pressure will remain. Steroid use can also indirectly damage the eye by causing an increase in blood sugar therefore causing diabetes, which can then lead to diabetic retinopathy. If you must take steroids, be sure to take high doses of antioxidants such as alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and lutein to help prevent cataract formation.
Glucocorticoids (Prednisone)
Eretinate, isoretinoin

Conventional Treatment

Surgery is the most common treatment for removing cataracts. The three major methods of surgical intervention are:

Extracapsular surgery: The lens, except for the back half of its outer covering, is removed.
Phacoemulsification: Only the lens core is removed after breaking it up with ultrasound.
Intracapsular: The entire lens and its capsule are removed. (This is rarely done.)

Most often, a plastic disc is inserted into the capsule, replacing the lens. This artificial lens is a permanent implant, except when it becomes clouded and needs replacement. Alternatives to an implant include a removable contact lens or special purpose eyeglasses.

Recovery from the operation itself takes only a day or so, but adjusting to the new lens can require weeks for some people, and as much as several months for others. For several weeks after surgery, using eye drops or ointment is recommended to prevent infection, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Note that cataract surgery can increase the risk of retinal detachment, which may occur at a later date.

Self Help for Cataracts

Diet & Nutrition

Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as One Plus Multivitamin or Dr. Grossman's Whole Food Multivitamin and/or an organic green drink.
The Vision Diet - recommended in Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia on CD. This CD covers 29 major eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, and offers advice on nutrients, diet, exercise and juicing instructions specific to each eye condition, plus much more.
Reduce or eliminate your intake of caffeine and soda
Avoid aspartame (foods labels "diet") and man-made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats, and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil).
Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our cataract recipe is some combination of the following: raspberries, watermelon, carrots, spinach, celery, radish (not too much fruit). See see more info on juicing.
Eliminate deep fat fried foods
Avoid monosodium glutanate (MSG), which is used as a flavor enhancer, because it is a potential retinal toxin (Inv Oph 1996; 37: 1618-24), and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids (Argus, August 1996;19:18:July 1996;19:22).
Limit your alcohol consumption to one glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels (Alcohol 1993;10;469-75).

Lifestyle & General Health

Eliminate smoking. Among other things, smoking produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription) as much as possible. Make sure to work closely with your doctor.
Exercise daily. Do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
Avoid microwaves. Leakage from microwave ovens are a direct cause of cataracts, so avoid peeking into the oven door window while you cook. In addition, food proteins exposed to microwaves can become toxic to the lens, which is made up mostly of proteins.
Manage your emotional health. It's very important in maintaining physical health. Fear (fear of failure, responsibility, of being alone, of death, etc.) is at the root of many of life's problems, and is a major factor in many diseases. Take up the practice of meditation, yoga, tai chi, prayer, etc.

As always, prevention is the best medicine. Using complementary medicine to try to address the underlying cause of cataracts, along with traditional medicine to try to prevent damage on an acute basis, is the best approach to preserving vision both short and long-term.

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Studies

Research on cataracts