Cataracts

Cataracts

A cataract is a painless clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. Left untreated, it can cause blindness. But this clouding has a silver lining: Surgery can restore lost sight in most cases.

While many people over age 60 do have some clouding of the eye lens and therefore some degree of cataracts, there are ways to help prevent cataracts from forming or getting worse at any age. Here's how to help make sure your lenses stay clear.

Drink your orange juice. "Our research shows there's a lower risk of developing cataracts in people who consume a lot of vitamin C in their diets," says Allen Taylor, Ph.D., director of the Lens Nutrition and Aging Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. "We're still trying to find out exactly how much is needed for protection against cataracts, but we know it's at least two times the Recommended Dietary Allowance." That amounts to 1 cup of orange juice, two oranges or 1 1/2 cups of strawberries.

Get your beta-carotene and vitamin E. "Vitamin E and beta-carotene also seem to offer some protection," adds Dr. Taylor. He recommends yellow and orange vegetables such as carrots, squash and sweet potatoes as excellent sources of beta-carotene. Foods high in vitamin E include almonds, fortified cereals, peanut butter and sunflower seeds.

Wear sunglasses or a hat. "The most credible evidence shows that the best way to prevent cataracts is to protect your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet rays," says Merrill M. Knopf, M.D., an ophthalmologist in Long Beach, California, and an officer of the California Association of Ophthalmology. "Be sure to wear sunglasses or a hat when you're outdoors. And there's no need to spend $100 or more for a pair of designer sunglasses, since all sunglasses sold in the United States offer UV protection. Putting a sticker on them to say that is simply a way to drive up the price. The kind sold at your drugstore will do as well as those sold by your eye doctor."

Look away when the microwaves in use. Even small doses of radiation make you more prone to developing cataracts, so limiting exposure to radiation sources--such as microwave ovens and x-ray machines--is recommended. "I know that all manufacturers say their ovens are safe, and maybe they are, but I make a point of turning my head away from my microwave oven and closing my eyes while it's in use," says Dr. Knopf. "I do the same when I'm at my dentist's office getting x-rays."

Control your vices. Occasional drinking won't affect you, but prolonged, problem drinking will. "Alcoholics are especially prone to developing cataracts, because alcoholism interferes with the nutritional pathway of food to the lens, making cataract formation more likely," says Dr. Knopf, Even in alcoholics who have good diets, essential nutrients intended for the eye are diverted.

Remember: Smoke gets to your eyes. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore report that cigarette smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop cataracts. That's because toxic substances in smoke damage the lens nucleus, causing cataracts. The good news is that by quitting smoking, you halve your risk of developing cataracts (compared with those who continue to smoke).

Take pain relievers. British researchers report that people who take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are half as likely to develop cataracts as other folks. That's because cataract formation is related to blood sugar (one reason why people with diabetes are more susceptible to cataract formation), and there's some evidence that aspirin and aspirin-like products reduce the rate at which your body uses glucose.