Cataracts - The Affliction of Older Eyes

More than half of all Americans over the age of 65 have cataracts – a clouding of the lens of the eye that can impair vision.

Cataracts are actually a buildup of protein in the lens that causes the cloudy appearance. This cloudiness prevents light from passing through a normally clear lens, causing some loss of vision. No one knows what causes the buildup of protein responsible for clouding the lens.

There are several types of cataracts. They include:

• Age-related cataracts, which develop as we advance in years.
• Congenital cataracts. Babies are sometimes born with cataracts as a result of an infection they had before they were born. These may also develop during childhood.
• Secondary cataracts. Other diseases, like diabetes, or long-term exposure to toxic substances, certain medications (such as corticosteroids or diuretics), ultraviolet light, and radiation may cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy.
• Traumatic cataracts. Injury to the eye may cause cataracts to form.

Symptoms

Cataracts often form slowly and cause few symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can include:

• Cloudy, blurry, foggy or filmy vision
• Sudden nearsightedness
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Poor night vision
• Problems with glare and light sensitivity
• Double vision (usually in one eye)
• Sudden temporary improvement in close-up vision
• A need for prescription changes
• Needing brighter light to read

Your eye doctor will perform a series of tests to determine if cataracts are present. He/she will also dilate your pupil in order to examine the condition of the lens and other parts of the eye.

Treatment

How your cataracts are treated depends on how they have affected your vision. If the damage is minor, simple prescription changes may improve your vision. If the cataracts cause vision loss that impairs your daily routine, you may need surgery, which involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear, plastic lens.

Prevention and a safe help in Treatment

You can help prevent cataracts by using supplements to support eye health. The nutrient lutein has been proven in numerous scientific studies to support the health of the eye and reduce the risk of developing the condition.

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that binds itself to toxins, allowing them to be flushed from the body through the liver. This antioxidant has been shown to support eye health.

Växa’s homeopathic medicinal Ocu-Care+ contains both lutein and glutathione! With these and other micro-nutritionals, this supplement is designed to keep eyes healthy by healing and helping to regenerate eye tissues, defending the eyes against free radicals (atom particles that can destroy or damage cells) and reducing inflammation.

Diet

Lutein can be found in leafy, dark green vegetables and egg yolks, although we can’t consume enough to guarantee eye health and should still take supplements like Ocu-Care+.