August 23, 2017 - Cataracts
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in adults age 55 and older. When a cataract begins to form, often it is unnoticeable to the patient and does not cause vision loss. If let untreated, however, symptoms will become noticeable. Common symptoms include sensitivity to light and distorted vision.
There are some causes of cataracts that cannot but controlled, but most risks can be mitigated through a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
How a cataract forms
A cataract forms when the lens behind the colored part of your eye becomes cloudy. Degradation of eye tissue can reduce the clarity of images when the tissue clumps together. Over time, the thickness of the clumped tissue increases and can lead to partial or complete blindness.
While there are several types of cataracts, each type shares many of the same causes.
Causes of cataracts
Certain lifestyle factors significantly increase the likelihood of developing cataracts. These include smoking, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, steroid medications, and diabetes. These causes increase the likelihood of developing cataracts because they create oxygen free radicals. These free radicals are known as oxidants, which are oxygen molecules in your body have been chemically altered and are now harming the healthy cells in your body. Smoking, UV radiation, steroid medications, and diabetes all contribute to the formation of oxidants.
Cataract development is closely related to high blood sugar levels. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Nuclear Cataracts at a younger age. Diabetes causes the body to undergo glycation. Glycation is the binding of sugar and protein molecules, which can damage eye tissue and lead to the cloudiness of the lens. High blood sugar levels can also damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the damaging of blood vessels in the retina. This can lead to swelling, leakage, or closure of blood vessels, ultimately inhibiting vision.
Cataracts are also known to be caused by food sensitivities – especially to soy, wheat and dairy products. These products are known to slow down digestion, which blocks the tiny capillaries that deliver nutrients to the eyes. Without proper nutrients, eye tissue will degrade and clump together at a faster rate. A ten-year study done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition studied diets of 40,000 women and found that those who consumed more fruits and vegetables had a 10-15% lower risk of developing cataracts.
If you have had previous eye surgeries or injuries, you are also at an increased risk of developing cataracts. While these surgeries are often necessary, and injuries may be unavoidable, it still becomes even more critical to living a healthy lifestyle to prevent cataracts from forming. In particular, add some of these nutrient-rich foods to your cart the next time you go grocery shopping.