Studies have suggested that the antioxidants in whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk and progression of cataracts. Carrots, in particular, nourish the eyes with beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A. Carbohydrates are not good for the eyes or the body.
Research has shown that eating foods that contain the healthy vitamins C and E, and lutein and zeaxanthin, may reduce your risk of cataracts. Additionally, if you already have cataracts, these vitamins and nutrients may slow their progression.
Noticing signs or symptoms of your vision failing can be a scary experience to go through. But can you reverse early-stage cataracts if you address the problem quickly enough? Unfortunately, there is no option to reverse cataracts.
Cataracts are a natural part of growing older. However, repeated exposure to UV radiation without eye protection can amplify and speed up this process. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, so it's important to protect yourself however you can.
The operation can be performed at any stage of cataract development. There is no need to wait until your cataract is “ripe” before removing it. Most people choose to have their cataracts removed when the change in their vision starts to cause them difficulties in everyday life.
Currently, there are no treatment plans to prevent or slow cataract prevention. However, while there are no clinically proven approaches for cataract prevention, some prevention strategies can include: Decreasing or stopping smoking. Monitoring your exposure to sunlight through UV-blocking lenses.
Prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can enhance cataract progression. During sunny days when you must be outside, try to wear sunglasses. For the same reasons as stated above, reducing the amount of ultraviolet light that reaches your eyes will help keep cataracts at bay.
In general, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle may help slow the progression of cataracts, but it is not likely to prevent or reverse them completely. The most effective treatment for cataracts is surgery, where the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial one.
People with low blood levels of antioxidants and those who eat few antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables have been reported to be at high risk for cataracts. Vitamin B2 and vitamin B3 are needed to protect glutathione, an important antioxidant in the eye. Vitamin B2 deficiency has been linked to cataracts.
There is currently no natural cure for cataracts. The only way a person can remove them is by undergoing surgery.
Eventually, almost everyone will develop cataracts. You may also be at risk for cataracts if you have a family history of them or if you are diabetic. These factors also affect your chances of developing cataracts at a much younger age.
Most cataracts are related to age — they happen because of normal changes in your eyes as you get older. But you can get cataracts for other reasons — like after an eye injury or after surgery for another eye problem (like glaucoma).
Making healthy lifestyle choices can certainly help in the prevention of cataracts and support your overall health, but it won't reverse the condition. Eye drops and apple cider vinegar likewise won't reverse cataracts. Currently, surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts.
Because emotional or psychological stress is associated with increased oxidant production and oxidative damage, long-term exposure to emotional or psychological stressors may enhance the risk of many diseases associated with oxidative stress, including cataracts.
While not a direct cause of cataracts, stress and anxiety can aggravate existing eye conditions that lead to cataracts.
Although it's never too late to have a cataract removed, it is better to have cataracts removed while they are immature, as this reduces the length of surgery and the recovery time. Earlier removal also means that you avoid the significant visual impairment associated with very mature (hypermature) cataracts.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
There is no single recommended age to get refractive cataract surgery. Cataracts normally develop after age 40, and some people elect for early intervention to restore their vision sooner. Patients can also delay their procedure until they're in a more convenient place in life.
If your eyes are regularly over-exposed to the sun's UV rays this can certainly damage them, possibly causing vision problems, blindness, and cataracts. The longer your eyes are exposed to the UV rays the higher the risk of cataracts forming.
Eyeglasses as a Treatment Option
Eyeglasses will not permanently fix cataracts, and your condition can continue to worsen. You can change your prescription over time to try and continuously combat the effects of cataracts, but eventually, the condition of your eyes may necessitate having to receive cataract surgery.
While there is no way to stop cataracts once they start to form, there are steps you can take to slow their progress, including wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light.