Keeping an eye on cataracts

June is Cataract Awareness Month. Did you know that cataracts are the biggest cause of blindness around the world?

Most cataracts are related to ageing and in countries like America more than half of the population over age 80 will have cataracts while over 20 million of those over 40 already have a cataract.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye. The lens is made of mostly water and protein arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and allows light to pass through it. However, as we age, the lens protein may become damaged and cloudy. This is what a cataract is and over time may grow larger and more cloudy making it harder to see.

There are several causes of cataract, such as smoking, high alcohol consumption and diabetes. But the common senile cataract may just reflect changes from the wear and tear to the eye over the years.

The most common symptoms of a cataract are: Cloudy or blurry vision, poor night vision and double vision. Glare, headlights, lamps, or sunlight may seem too bright and a halo may appear around lights. Cataract sufferers may require frequent prescription changes in their eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Prevention of Cataracts

Quit smoking: Smoking causes free radicals to form, decreasing the level of antioxidants in the blood, and heightens your risk of cataracts.

Eat antioxidant rich foods and take antioxidants: Antioxidants are nutrients that help prevent cataracts by disarming free radicals. Researchers at Tufts University in the United States have demonstrated that the regular long-term consumption of vitamins E, C and the B vitamins, riboflavin and thiamine is associated with a significant decreased risk of cataracts. Include antioxidant-rich foods like vegetables and fresh fruit in your daily diet. In addition to the vitamins listed above, they contain other antioxidants like lutein and Zeaxanthin that powerfully protect the eye.

Sunglasses: Wear sunglasses when in bright sunlight as the UV rays can cause free-radical damage in individuals who are lacking in antioxidants.

An alternative to Surgery

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical operation in the world today. However, surgical removal of cataracts is not without its complications and some patients are not good candidates for surgery.

Eye drops containing an antioxidant called N-acetylcarnosine has been found by Russian doctors to offer an effective alternative to cataract surgery, allowing people to keep their natural lens rather than having it surgically replaced with an artificial one. Clinical trials have found it to be effective in the treatment of cataracts and safe for long-term use.

In human trials using these eye-drops applied twice daily into the eye, patients suffering from cataracts had a 90 per cent improvement in visual acuity after six months of use.

N-acetylcarnosine does this by delivering the amino acid L-Carnosine into the fluid surrounding the lens where it acts as a natural antioxidant, protecting the lens proteins from free-radical damage.

N-acetylcarnosine eye-drops have measurable affects after only one month of use, but it is recommended that for best results, use be continued, for a period not less than three months. In addition, the sooner the treatment is started after a cataract is detected, the better.

Additional benefits:

Other than senile cataract, N-acetylcarnosine may benefit other eye-disorders like glaucoma, corneal disorders, computer eye strain, blurred vision, inflamed and dry eyes, the eye complications of diabetes mellitus and other diseases and contact-lens difficulties.

N-acetylcarnosine eye drops are available as a non-prescription product under the name Brite Eyes. Because of FDA regulations, no health claims are made on the product label and it is sold as an eye lubricant.

You may email Dr Tony Vendryes at tonyvendryes@gmail.com, or listen to An Ounce of Prevention on POWER 106FM on Fridays at 8 p.m. His new book An Ounce of Prevention - Especially for Women is available from the Vendryes Wellness Centre and local bookstores.