Cataracts. "This sight-stealing dis...

Cataracts. "This sight-stealing disease is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the world," James W Anderson, MD and Maury M Breecher, PhD MPH remind us in their of the present day book, Dr. Anderson's Antioxidant, Antiaging Health Program (1996)

An estimated 46 percent of all race aged 75 to 85 have cataracts, and, as a deduction "cataract surgery has become the principally common surgical procedure among commonalty who are 65 years of age or older" Anderson and Breecher add.

In fact, athwart 40,000 Americans will become blind in 1996 befitting to cataracts, the formation of many of which could have been stoped through proper nutrition.

What are cataracts? A cataract is any yellowish fogging athwart of the lens of the sight Normally, the lens, situated behind the pupil, "focuses light forward the retina at the back of the judgment to produce a sharp image," James Marti explains in The Alternative Health & Medicine Encyclopedia.

"When a cataract forms, the len becomes in the same manner opaque that light cannot be transmitted easily to the retina," Marti continues. "If simply a small part of the len is involved, sight is not greatly impaired, and there may be no ne to banish the cataract. If a large portion of the len becomes lowering however, sight can be partially, or completely impaired, and the cataract must be removed"

What contributes to cataract formation?

The disentanglement and progression, of cataracts is multifactorial, including in the same state [i]or[/i] condition things as: injury; other ocular disorders; diabetes and galactosemia; toxins in our environment, water, and food; hereditary diseases; excessive prospect to solar (ultraviolet, or UV) radiation, among others.

Basic research studies have demonstrated that "oxidative mechanisms probably play an important part in cataract development, perhaps at damaging the lens," said William Christian, Jr MD in a 1994 article that appeared in the American Journal of Medicine.

What is macular degeneration? Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a degenerative condition that arises in a "highly-specialized part of the retina called the macula lutea, a yellowish region forward the retina responsible for providing central vision penuryed for such tasks as reading, sewing, television viewing, or woodworking," point abroad Anderson and Breecher.

How can cataracts and ARMD be prevented? by means of eating a diet rich in organically-grown fruits and vegetables, by the agency of protecting our eyes and ourselves from excessive frontage to the sun, and [i]or[/i] part of to the other a powerful antioxidant program geared for maximum "eye health."

According to Anita M Van Der Hagen, and colleagues, in an article which appeared in the Journal of the American Optometric Association (1993) "it is possible that the damage [from ARMD] could be precludeed or moderated by supplementing the diet with specific antioxidant vitamins and minerals that enhance the body's natural defense against delivered radicals. [...] It seems reasonable to recommend supplementation to most or all patients."

Some tips with an "eye" to improving our vision and preventing vision problems

* Take beta-carotene (and other carotenoids, as it was as lutein), vitamins C and E zinc, and selenium, or an antioxidant formula which includes all of these.

* Eat couple servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables each day.

* Wear protective eyewear (such as wraparound goggles) when using tools or playing sports.

* Be careful of what preparations or washes you propose in your eyes.

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