Other studies have shown antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cataract risk. Good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include spinach, kale and other green, leafy vegetables. Good food sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds and spinach. One large, 10-year study of female health professionals found that higher dietary intakes of vitamin E and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin from food and supplements were associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract. Though there is significant controversy about whether cataracts can be prevented, a number of studies suggest certain nutrients and nutritional supplements may reduce your risk of cataracts. This is supported by nutrition studies that show fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants may help prevent certain types of cataracts One theory of cataract formation that’s gaining favor is that many cataracts are caused by oxidative changes in the human lens. Statin medicines used to reduce cholesterol.Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications.Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and other sources.Besides advancing age, cataract risk factors include: But researchers worldwide have identified factors that may cause cataracts or are associated with cataract development. No one knows for sure why the eye’s lens changes as we age, forming cataracts. This is a cataract, and over time, it may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.īut as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens.
The lens is mostly made of water and protein. It also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens inside the eye works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina for clear vision. If you think you have a cataract, see an eye doctor for an exam to find out for sure. On the other hand, a subcapsular cataract may not produce any symptoms until it’s well-developed. Unfortunately, the improved vision is short-lived and will disappear as the cataract worsens. When a nuclear cataract first develops, it can bring about a temporary improvement in your near vision, called “second sight.” The type of cataract you have will affect exactly which symptoms you experience and how soon they will occur. Colors may not appear as bright as they once did. Or you may notice when you drive at night that the oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. You may notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass or viewing an impressionist painting.Ī cataract may make light from the sun or a lamp seem too bright or glaring. This type of cataract occurs in the lens cortex, which is the part of the lens that surrounds the central nucleus.Ī cataract starts out small and at first has little effect on your vision. Nuclear cataracts usually are associated with aging.Ī cortical cataract is characterized by white, wedge-like opacities that start in the periphery of the lens and work their way to the center in a spoke-like fashion. People with diabetes or those taking high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing a subcapsular cataract.Ī nuclear cataract forms deep in the central zone (nucleus) of the lens. In fact, there are more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are of glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy combined.Ī subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil.Ĭataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and is the principal cause of blindness in the world.
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