Cataract Definition
What are Cataracts?The lens is made up mostly of water and protein. There is no blood supply to the lens. Cataracts develop when the proteins are damaged and they become translucent or opaque.
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 TypesCataract types are categorized by where the cataract is located, when it developed and the cause of the cataract. A person can have more than one type of cataract and each type affects our vision differently.The three main types of age related cataracts are defined by where the cataract begins to form. They are nuclear, cortical and subcapsular. To learn more click here:
Eye CataractsAs we age different factors cause the lens to become cloudy, hard and dense. When this happens light cannot get through the lens as it did before and causes our vision to become blurred or hazy.The lens is also responsible for adjusting the eye's focus so we can see things clearly whether they are up close or far away. The ability of the lens to focus diminishes as the lens hardens. Most cataracts are associated with age. According to the National Eye Institute, "By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery." Eye cataracts develop very slowly and may take years before your vision is affected. When they begin to interfere with your quality of life, that is when you and your ophthalmologist can discuss cataract surgery - which is the only way it is treated. The clouded lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. What is Oxidation?You can't have a discussion about cataracts without bringing in oxidation. What is oxidation? Oxidation is the result of excess free radicals bringing harm or damage to the cells.Most of you have heard of antioxidants -(anti-oxidant) - meaning they fight and prevent oxidation. Free radicals are the byproduct of cell metabolism. Our bodies create free radicals when we eat, exercise, or perform any normal everyday function. Anti-oxidants neutralize these free radicals that can harm our cell wall and cell DNA. It is important to have a good ratio of free radicals to antioxidants so that the free radicals are disarmed. Cataracts form as a result of oxidation and free radical damage to the lens. The lens absorbs much of the UV light. As you can tell, the eyes are exposed to more oxidation than most other parts of the body, because of it's exposure to ultraviolet and blue light. To learn more click here: What is Oxidation Cataract and Macula DegenerationThe formation of a cataract and macular degeneration is the result of the oxidation process. Because these eye conditions are both age related, many people will have both eye diseases. There are several ways to protect our eyes to try to prevent these eye disorders. They are:1) Protect your eyes with sunglasses that offer 100% UV light protection 2) Wear sunglasses that wrap around your face to prevent light from getting in from the sides 3) Wear wide brimmed hats or sun visors 4) Eat foods that are high in antioxidants To learn more click here: Cataract and Macular Degeneration Age Related Eye Disease StudyMost people associate the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) with macular degeneration. However, the stated purpose of this study was:"1. To assess the clinical course, prognosis, and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract. 2. To evaluate, in randomized clinical trials, the effects of pharmacologic doses of (1) antioxidants and zinc on the progression of AMD and (2) antioxidants on the development and progression of lens opacities (cataracts)." The published results from the National Institute of Health reported: "In the cataract portion of the study, researchers discovered that the same nutrients had no significant effect on the development or progression of age-related cataract."
Age Related Eye Disease Study
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