How To Prevent Cataracts From Getting Worse – Cataracts are cloudy spots that develop on the lens of the eye when proteins in the lens collide. The lens is usually clear, and its job is to direct light to your retina as part of the vision process.
Several risk factors are known to contribute to the development of cataracts. But this does not mean that cataracts can be prevented. In fact, one of the biggest risk factors for cataracts, namely age, is out of your control.
How To Prevent Cataracts From Getting Worse
However, it is a good idea to take steps that can slow the development of cataracts, especially if you have a family history of the disorder or have started to develop cataracts yourself.
Untreated Cataract Leads To Loss Of Vision? Read More!
Many of the lifestyle measures that are believed to prevent or slow the development of cataracts are broad recommendations that can improve your overall health and well-being.
But no matter how well you take care of your eyes and overall health, you can still develop cataracts or see the progression of existing cataracts. It’s important to keep your expectations realistic and work with your doctor to manage or treat any vision changes that occur. (1, 2)
Many of these recommendations are based on factors known or suspected to cause cataracts, rather than strong evidence that they can be prevented.
In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, no studies have provided strong evidence on how to prevent cataracts. (2)
How To Prevent Your Dog From Getting Cataracts
Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays can help prevent or slow the development of cataracts.
UVB rays are especially harmful to your eyes, so it’s important to look for glasses that specifically offer this protection.
It’s a good idea to wear protective sunglasses any time you’re outside during the day, not just when the sun is particularly bright or shining at an angle that obstructs your vision. Many eyeglass retailers offer affordable prescription sunglasses online.
If you don’t want to wear sunglasses outside, or if you’re looking for protection when you’re indoors, you can wear regular clear glasses with a UV-blocking coating.
Cataract Surgery Los Angeles Archives
While visiting your eye doctor won’t directly prevent cataracts, it can help you be aware of your cataracts and learn about steps you can take to help prevent or control the condition.
If you develop cataracts, it is important to monitor your condition with regular appointments. Talk to your doctor about how often you should stop in for office visits.
In general, according to the National Eye Institute, adults over age 60 should have a comprehensive eye exam at least once every two years. By doing this, the screen can also help with conditions like macular degeneration and glaucoma that may require complex treatment due to cataracts. (3)
If you have diabetes, it’s important to control your blood sugar to limit eye damage caused by high glucose levels.
What Is The Average Age For Cataracts?
Be sure to take any medications prescribed for high blood pressure and get your blood pressure checked regularly. If you find that your blood pressure isn’t where it should be, talk to your doctor about changing or intensifying your treatment.
This step is important for anyone with diabetes or high blood pressure, especially if you’ve already been diagnosed with cataracts or other eye diseases. (2, 4)
Smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco can cause cardiovascular problems, including problems with the blood vessels in your eyes.
Talk to your doctor about getting help to quit smoking, especially if you’ve struggled with it in the past. Helpful options may include medications, counseling, and other medical and motivation-based strategies. (2)
Why Is My Child’s Myopia Getting Worse?
If you are addicted to alcohol or believe you need help to cut down on alcohol, talk to your doctor about getting the support you need. Medication, individual counseling, and group-based therapy can help you drink less or stop drinking. (5)
A balanced, varied diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables can help ensure you don’t lack the vitamins or other nutrients you need for optimal eye health.
Fruits and vegetables contain high levels of antioxidant compounds that have been shown in studies to support eye and vision health.
Although studies show that a diet rich in vitamins and minerals can reduce your risk of developing cataracts, this benefit has not been proven with vitamin pills and other supplements, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Diagnosing & Managing Cataracts
Even some antioxidant supplements have been shown to have harmful effects, so the safest way to increase your intake of these beneficial nutrients is to eat foods that naturally contain them. (2)
It is important to distinguish between measures that may help prevent cataracts but have limited evidence and those that are not supported by the available evidence or are actually incorrect. (6)
Dietary Supplements While research is ongoing on the effects of various supplements on cataract development, the results so far are mixed and do not support any specific recommendations, according to the National Eye Institute. (3)
Early surgical treatment for cataract surgery does not stop the condition in its tracks or prevent it from worsening. Instead, it completely removes the affected lens from your eye. Because the damaged lens in your eye cannot be removed and repaired, cataract surgery is only recommended for conditions severe enough to interfere with your daily life. (2)
Important Facts About Cataracts
The FDA said unapproved eye drops pose a particular health risk because they can overcome some of the body’s natural defenses.
Bacterial contamination at the manufacturing facility prompted the recall, but no infections have been reported so far.
See why GlassesUSA won Warby Parker (Best of Home) 2 as Best Online Glasses Store. Read more about Eyebuydirect and four other online brands.
Want to order contacts online? We reviewed the top contact lenses online to find the best online contact store.
Ways To Lower Your Risk For Cataracts
In infants and children, amblyopia is a loss of vision in one or both eyes that occurs when the visual part of the brain does not develop normally.
Cataracts, glaucoma, refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration are the most common causes of blindness in adults worldwide.
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. They are a normal and normal part of aging, but they can be treated with surgical …
To diagnose cataracts, your doctor takes into account your medical history and symptoms and performs one or more tests to evaluate your vision.
Preventing Cataracts From Getting Worse
Cataracts affect the way the lens in your eye focuses light. They almost always cause blurred vision and can cause double vision and sensitivity to glare.
There is no cure for cataracts short of surgery, but your doctor may advise you to delay surgery until the cataract has grown sufficiently… Cataracts cloud the natural lens. Our clear aspirin-sized lens is made up mostly of water and protein. As we age, certain proteins clump together and cover a small portion of our lens. This formation is the beginning of a cataract. Over time, it covers more of the lens, making it harder for us to see. This is very similar to the effect of looking through a blurry camera lens. The blurred image can be far or near and can occur in one or both eyes, although it cannot spread from one eye to the other.
The most common cataract is nuclear cataract, which is caused by the aging process and changes. Other risk factors for cataracts include diabetes, excessive sunlight or certain types of radiation, eye injuries, and long-term steroid or cortisone medications for medical conditions such as lupus or severe arthritis. In some cases, children are born with cataracts or may develop them during their childhood.
In the early stages, you may have very poor vision, so only your ophthalmologist can tell. Your first symptom may be a slight blurring of vision only in bright light, but at some point you may start to notice the other changes listed below.
Cataracts: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment Options
To date, there are no medications that can slow or eliminate the growth of cloudy lenses. In the early stages of cataracts, most people can improve their vision with new glasses, contacts, shiny sunglasses, or magnifying glasses, however, as cataracts worsen over time, surgery is the only effective treatment. If left untreated, the cataract will become cloudy and it will be very difficult to see any details. During cataract surgery, the doctor will remove the cloudy, damaged lens and replace it with a clear plastic intraocular lens (IOL). In the past, doctors waited until the cataract developed before developing IOL implants.
However with today’s advanced surgical techniques and equipment, doctors tend to prescribe cataract surgery at an earlier stage of development.
By getting your vision checked regularly, you and your eye care professional can discuss any time you need treatment.
There are currently no proven ways to prevent cataracts from developing as a result of aging, however, you can delay the onset of cataracts by wearing sunglasses or brimmed hats to block UV rays. Some researchers have also identified antioxidants such as vitamin C
Can You Postpone Cataract Surgery
How to prevent rosacea from getting worse, how to prevent tinnitus from getting worse, how to prevent scoliosis from getting worse, how to stop cataracts from getting worse, how to prevent copd from getting worse, how to prevent eyesight from getting worse, how to prevent arthritis from getting worse, how to prevent cavities from getting worse, how to prevent uti from getting worse, how to prevent osteoarthritis from getting worse, how to prevent hernia from getting worse, how to prevent astigmatism from getting worse