Cataracts is the clouding of the lens due to changes in the protein. This affects sharpness of vision and color perception. The lens sits behind the iris. Light passes through this clear part of the eye and then focuses light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred. Often the cataract will grow larger and cloud more of the lens.

Cataract Causes

Free radicals cause damage to the lens and to the macula (the small center in the retina) as a result of oxidation. Oxidation leaves the body with thousands of unbalanced electrons.These unstable electrons bring damage to our cells and especially to the lens of the eye and the macula where there is a lot of oxidation.

Keeping our free radicals in balance is extremely critical in the prevention of cataracts, macular degeneration, degenerative diseases, cancer and in the aging battle.

Some of this is a normal part of the aging process, but there are other factors that can cause cataracts to develop earlier. They are:

Cataract Prevention
Prevention of cataracts may not be possible, but it may be possible to delay the development of cataracts through a healthy lifestyle. Take these steps to help protect the lens of your eye:

Protect your eyes from ultraviolet light.

√ Wear 100% UV protected sunglasses and wide brim hats

√ Avoid the sun from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

√ Do not use tanning beds

You don’t need to buy expensive sunglasses to get good protection.

Quit smoking.

Smoking causes free radicals to form and decreases the level of antioxidants in the blood. Now we have more free radicals than what can be disarmed by the circulating antioxidants. These free radicals through a cascading series of chemical reactions bring disease and aging to our bodies.

Many common eye diseases are associated with smoking. Normally we think of the lungs as being the most affected organ. The health of our bodies and our eyes – including the macula and the lens – depends on healthy circulation. Smoking promotes atherosclerosis or a hardening of blood vessels – including the fragile ocular (eye) capillaries.

Eat antioxidant rich foods and foods high in lutein.

Antioxidants are nutrients that help prevent diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts by disarming the free radicals. Free radicals form as a result of normal body mechanisms. It is when the ratio of free radicals to antioxidants gets out of balance that diseases can develop. Include antioxidant rich foods in your diet to help fight free radicals.

Zeaxanthin with lutein are powerful antioxidants that protect our eyes from the damages of free radicals. Here is the conclusion of a study that was reported on in January 2008.

The prospective observational data from a large cohort of female health professionals reported:

“higher dietary intakes of lutein/zeaxanthin and vitamin E from food and supplements were associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract.”

Archives of Ophthalmology Vol. 126 No. 1, January 2008