Cataracts

Overview

Cataracts are the number one vision problem in the United States, and are also the leading cause of blindness. Many instances of cataracts develop gradually over time and occur primarily in senior citizens. However, it is possible that cataracts may occur at any age. Due the steady onset of cataract symptoms, cataracts are often mistaken as a natural consequence of aging, which allows symptoms to advance undetected until they are too far developed to reverse the damage they have caused. When cataracts are detected earlier, healing treatments can usually stop their progression.

Types of Cataracts

There are two main types of cataracts—senile cataracts and inherited cataracts.

Senile cataracts make up the majority of cataract cases, and are characterized by spots on the lens of the eyes appearing in middle to old age. Inherited cataracts, which can occur as early as childhood, are much rarer than senile cataracts and are typically caused by an inherited disorder, such as diabetes or Down’s Syndrome.

Symptoms of Cataracts

The main symptoms of cataracts are cloudy or opaque spots on the lens of the eye. Initially, they may go undetected, but over time they can trigger partial or even complete cloudiness in the lens. In severe cases, blindness can occur. In fact, 40,000 Americans become blind in one eye each year because of cataracts.

Other indications of cataracts include blurry vision, changes in color perception, darkening of eyesight, night blindness, and temporary improvement in farsightedness.

Causes of Cataracts

The primary causes of cataracts are free radical damage to the lens of the eye. Culprits include a harmful diet, lack of nutrients (especially anti-oxidants and minerals), heavy metal toxicity, eye injury, obesity, cigarette smoking or regular exposure to second-hand smoke, and exposure to infrared light, radiation, or ultra-violet light.

Cataracts can also be a result of poor blood circulation, sluggish digestive function such as low stomach acid, which can result in the incomplete breakdown of food nutrients, leading to free radical damage.

The use of pharmaceutical drugs can also cause cataracts, as well as other types of vision difficulties. These include antihistamines, diuretics, dental contraceptives, steroids, chlorpromazine, digoxin, ethambutol, precious metal (used to treat arthritis and lupus), haloperidol, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, and tetracycline.

Other causes include chronic physical pressure, especially hard neck or shoulder pain, and chronic, unresolved emotions.

Natural Cures

Ayurveda: According to Ayurvedic theory, most vision difficulties can be attributed to digestive disorders. Emphasize enhancing digestion and exercise regularly. Specific Ayurvedic herbal treatments are used in combination with the more commonly known amla, licorice, and triphala herbs. A diet rich in natural, whole grains with plentiful quantities of antioxidant-rich- vegetables is strongly encouraged.

Diet: Emphasize a diet of organic, whole foods, with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Antioxidant rich vegetables include bell peppers, celery, parsley, spinach, tomatoes, yellow squash, and dark-leafy green vegetables, such as chard, collards and kale. Fruit high in antioxidants include berries, especially the dark rich colored berries, purple and red grapes, apples, cherries, mangos, melons and fresh citrus fruit. Organic egg yolks are also recommended because they’re rich in carotenoids, an important antioxidant. It is best to eat soft, rather than hard-boiled egg yolks to protect the heat sensitive valuable carotenoids. Soft boiled, poached, sunny-side up, or uncooked eggs are best.

Raw eggs may be eaten if they come from a reliable organic source and are washed just before cracking. Salmonella travels on the shell of the eggs and can also enter the egg externally, so washing eggs with hot soapy water reduces exposure.

Avoid all prepared and fried foods, sugar as well as sugar products, refined simple carbohydrates, alcohol, and unhealthy hydrogenated as well as partially hydrogenated oils. Milk and dairy products should be eaten sparingly, and preferably raw and organic only. Avoid conventional and overcooked/barbequed meats. Additionally, get tested for food allergies and avoid all food for which you test positive.

Also be sure to drink plenty of real, filtered drinking water throughout the day to help eliminate accumulated toxins and encourage waste removal. Proper hydration is also essential for maintaining the suppleness of the eyes` lenses. Fresh raw green juices are an important addition to one`s daily food plan. See the recipe area for green juice suggestions.

Eye Exercises: The following eye exercises are useful for preventing and reversing most types of eyesight problems.

Rest your eyes for 5 minutes, every 30 to 60 minutes, relaxing your gaze and staring into space.

Blink your eyes frequently. This decreases eyestrain.

Take regular breaks throughout the day to breathe deeply for a few minutes, coupled with neck and shoulder stretching. This helps to ensure that your eye muscles receive adequate amounts of oxygen.

To further reduce facial tension, yawn in an overstated fashion. Doing so helps to stretch and relax your facial muscles.

Cover your eyes with your hands for 5 minutes and breathe deeply. Do this every few hours as needed.

Spend 20-30 minutes each day rapidly switching your focus from near to far. An easy way to do this is to place your finger 6 to 8 inches from your eyes. Focus on it for a moment, and then focus on an object in the distance. Keep altering your focus from near to far. This is an excellent way to exercise your eye muscles.

Roll your eyes all the way up and down in a full circular movement for 5 minutes, 3-5 times a day.

Pin a sheet of reading material to the wall and read from two feet away (or closer if you need to). Each day, step further away from the walls. With regular practice, you will eventually have the ability to read the same material from across the room. If you are nearsighted, reverse this process, starting as far away from the sheet of paper as you need to be, then slowly shifting closer every day until you are able to read it from only a few inches away.

Herbal treatments: The following herbs can be very helpful for preventing and slowing the progression of cataracts: Bilberry, curcumin, gentian root, grape seed extract, ginkgo biloba, as well as pine bark extract (pycnogenol).

Homeopathy: The following homeopathic treatments can also be useful: Calcarea—for early phase cataracts, Phosphorus—for symptoms that create a veil-like effect over the eyes, Ruta Grav.—for symptoms associated with burning, red-colored eyes, and Silicea—at the first sign of symptoms and until satisfactory relief is achieved.

Juice Treatment: Drink 16oz. of carrot juice mixed with fresh celery, cucumber, parsley, and green spinach in 2 divided dosages (eight ounces per serving) each day.

Lifestyle: Avoid exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke, and if you smoke, stop. When outdoors on sunny days, wear sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays.

Dietary Supplementation: Useful nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin B complex, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotene, flavonoids, lutein, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), riboflavin, selenium, taurine, zeaxthanin, and zinc oxide.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): According to TCM theory, the majority of vision difficulties can be attributed to diminished liver function. To restore wholesome liver perform, TCM professionals combine traditional Chinese medicine with nutritional changes as well as traditional Chinese herbs, such as ginkgo biloba and ginseng.

Alternative Professional Care

The following professional therapies have been shown to be useful for preventing and treating cataracts: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Bodywork (Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, Reflexology, Rolfing, Shiatsu, and Therapeutic Massage), Craniosacral Treatment, Chiropractic Treatments, Detoxification Therapy, Environmental Medicine, Magnetic Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, as well as Osteopathic Treatments. (See References for explanations of these Alternative Therapies).