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A condition of the eyes where the lens of the eye becomes clouded or opaque and is unable to focus on near or distant objects.
Cataracts are an Eyesight Ailment characterized by the loss of transparency of the crystalline Lens of the Eyeball severe enough to impair (blur) vision.
Prevalence
The population at greatest risk of Cataracts are those aged over 55 years. 5% of persons aged 65 years or over have visually significant Cataracts. 50% of persons aged 75 years or over have visually significant Cataracts.
Substances that Alleviate or Prevent Cataracts
Amino Acids
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) (1,500 mg per day) helps to prevent Cataracts (by preventing Simple Sugars from causing Cross-Linking [glycosylation] of the body's endogenous Proteins within the Eyes).
Cysteine prevents Cataracts.
Ethylene-Diamine-Tetra-Acetate (EDTA) - the synthetic Amino Acid used in Chelation Therapy - alleviates (small) Cataracts.
Histidine deficiency can result in Cataracts (diets that exclude Histidine result in Cataracts within three weeks).
Methionine deficiency can cause Cataracts and Methionine supplementation helps to prevent the development of Cataracts.
Cataracts can occur as a result of Phenylalanine deficiency.
Taurine helps to prevent (and also possibly reverses) Cataracts by inhibiting the glycosylation process in the Lens of the Eye that is an underlying cause of Cataracts.
Carbohydrates
Viscoat (a synthetic Pharmaceutical Drug that contains Chondroitin Sulfate and the Sodium Hyaluronate form of Hyaluronic Acid) protects the Eyes against corneal loss during Cataract surgery (it must be administered via injection by a suitably qualified medical practitioner).
Carotenoids
Alpha-Carotene helps to prevents Cataracts.
Beta-Carotene helps to prevent Cataracts.
Lutein protects against the development of Cataracts (by protecting the Cells of the Eyes from Light-generated Free Radicals) and retards the further progression of Cataracts.
Zeaxanthin protects against the development of Cataracts and retards the further progression of Cataracts (by protecting the Cells of the Eyes from Light-generated Free Radicals).
Enzymes
Glutathione Peroxidase prevents Cataracts (by exerting Antioxidant effects in the Lens of the Eye).
Glutathione Reductase helps to prevent Cataracts.
Minerals
Calcium (500 mg per day) helps to prevent Cataracts.
Optimal Copper levels help to prevent Cataracts.
Germanium retards the progression of Cataracts (by preventing the Cross-Linking of the tissues of the Lens of the Eye).
Selenium helps to prevent Cataracts (due to its role in the production of Glutathione Peroxidase, an endogenous Antioxidant that protects the Lens of the Eye from Cataracts):
- The Selenium content of Cataract-afflicted Lenses is only 15% of those found in normal, healthy Lenses.
Zinc (especially the Zinc Aspartate form) retards the further progression of Cataracts.
Peptides
Carnosine concentrates in the Lens of the Eyes where it helps to prevent Cataracts (via its Antioxidant properties).
- N-Acetyl-Carnosine (eye drops applied topically) significantly improves the condition (reverses) of existing Cataracts.
Glutathione (usually via its incorporation into the Glutathione Peroxidase enzyme) prevents Cataracts (due to Glutathione Peroxidase exerting Antioxidant effects in the Lens of the Eye).
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Aspirin may prevent Cataracts - Aspirin inhibits glycosylation in the Lens of the Eye that is a causative factor in the development of Cataracts:
- Epidemiological evidence shows that people who have used Aspirin on a daily basis for four months or longer have a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of Cataracts.
Paracetamol (if used on a daily basis for four months or longer) has been found to exert protective effects against the development of Cataracts (it appears to prevent the Cross-Linking that underlies the development of Cataracts).
Polyphenols
Anthocyanosides prevents the further progression of cataracts in 97% of cases.
Kaempferol prevents the formation of Cataracts.
Myricetin prevents the formation of Cataracts (due to its Antioxidant capabilities).
Pycnogenol helps to prevent Cataracts by inhibiting the Aldose Reductase enzyme that has been implicated in Cataracts.
Quercetin helps to prevent Cataracts (by inhibiting the Aldose Reductase enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of Glucose to Sorbitol in the Lens of the Eye: the accumulation of Sorbitol in the Eye’s Lens results in Cataracts).
Proteins
Whey Protein helps to prevent Cataracts (by supplying the Lens with additional Cysteine, the precursor of Glutathione, itself the precursor for Glutathione Peroxidase).
Quinones
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) protects against Cataracts.
Smart Drugs
Aminoguanidine helps to prevent Cataracts (by inhibiting the Cross-Linking that causes Cataracts).
Vitamins
Inositol helps to prevent Cataracts (due to its Antioxidant properties and its ability to inhibit Cross-Linking in the Lens of the Eye).
Lipoic Acid reduces the incidence of Cataracts in Diabetes Mellitus patients and in normal, healthy persons:
- Lipoic Acid inhibits the activation of Aldose Reductase (an enzyme that is implicated in Cataracts via to its ability to catalyze the production of Galacticol and Sorbitol from Galactose and Glucose).
Pantethine (a form of Vitamin B5) helps to prevent Cataracts.
Vitamin A is an adjunct in the treatment of Cataracts (according to anecdotal reports).
Vitamin B2 (200 - 600 mg per day) helps to prevent Cataracts:
- However Vitamin B2 should not be used by pre-existing Cataracts patients as some evidence suggests that supplemental Vitamin B2 may exacerbate existing Cataracts.
Vitamin C (300 mg or more per day) helps to prevent and cure Cataracts (it can lower the risk of developing Cataracts by up to 70%).
Vitamin E lowers the risk of Cataracts by preventing oxidative damage to the Eyes.
Foods/Herbs that Prevent the Further Progression of Cataracts
Herbs
Bilberry prevents the further progression of Cataracts (due to the Anthocyanosides in Bilberry)
Camu-Camu is claimed to prevent Cataracts.
Vegetables
Kale helps to prevent the development of Cataracts and (very effectively) retards the further progression of Cataracts (primarily due to the Lutein content of Kale).
Spinach helps to prevent the development of Cataracts and (very effectively) retards the further progression of Cataracts (primarily due to the Lutein content of Spinach).
Substances that Cause/Exacerbate Cataracts
Aldehydes
Malondialdehyde increases the risk of Cataracts.
Carbohydrates
Excessive consumption of Simple Sugars can cause Cataracts (due to Simple Sugars causing Cross-Linking [glycosylation] of the body's endogenous Collagen within the Eyes):
- Excessive consumption of Galactose is implicated in Cataracts (due to its conversion by Aldose Reductase to Galacticol).
- Excessive consumption of Glucose is implicated in Cataracts (due to its conversion by Aldose Reductase to Sorbitol).
Excessive accumulation of Galacticol (a Sugar Alcohol formed from dietary Galactose) can cause Cataracts.
The excessive accumulation of Sorbitol (formed from Glucose) in the Lens of the Eye is implicated in the formation of Cataracts.
Detergents
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a common component of Shampoos) can cause Cataracts (in adults). Sodium Lauryl Sulfate does not have to come into contact with the Eyes for this effect to occur. It readily permeates the Skin (e.g. Scalp) and then travels to they Eyes where it causes damage.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Excessive exposure of the Eyes to Sunlight increases the risk of Cataracts (due to Ultra-Violet Radiation).
Excessive exposure of the Eyes to Ultra-Violet Radiation increases the risk of Cataracts.
Enzymes
Aldose Reductase is involved in the development of Cataracts.
- Aldose Reductase catalyzes the conversion of Glucose to Sorbitol and catalyzes the conversion of Galactose to Galacticol - Sorbitol and Galacticol are both implicated in Cataracts.
Free Radicals
Cataracts are caused by Free Radicals (especially Sulfide and Superoxide Free Radicals) damaging the Epithelial Cells of the Lens:
- These Free Radicals cause Cross-Linking of the endogenous Proteins (i.e. they cause glycosylation) within the Lens of the Eye.
Minerals
Exposure to/ingestion of Cadmium increases the risk of Cataracts.
Excessive consumption of Sodium increases the risk of Cataracts.
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Allopurinol can bind to the Lens of the Eye, resulting in Cataracts.
Prolonged use of Pharmaceutical Corticosteroids increases the risk of developing Cataracts.
Recreational Drugs
Tobacco smoking increases the risk of Cataracts.
Vitamins
Vitamin B2 should not be used by pre-existing Cataracts patients as some evidence suggests that supplemental Vitamin B2 may exacerbate existing Cataracts.
Ailments that Increase the Risk of Cataracts
Aging Process
The incidence of Cataracts increases in tandem with the Aging Process.
Metabolism
Persons afflicted with Diabetes Mellitus are more likely to acquire Cataracts (due to the inherent inability of Diabetics to properly metabolize Carbohydrates, excessive levels of Sugar Alcohols - especially Galacticol - accumulate within the body and these Sugar Alcohols proceed to cause Cataracts).
If Galactose is not eliminated from the diet of Galactosemia patients, Cataracts can result.
People afflicted with Obesity are prone to a greater incidence of Cataracts:
- Epidemiological evidence shows that obese people have a 200% greater likelihood of developing Cataracts compared to normal, healthy humans.
Contraindications - Cataracts Patients should Avoid these Substances
Vitamins
Persons afflicted with Cataracts should not use supplemental Vitamin B2:
- Vitamin B2 is a photosensitizing substance - experimental studies have shown that when Vitamin B2 is exposed to Visible Light, Cataracts can occur (or be exacerbated) as a result of the generation of Free Radicals from the interaction of Visible Light, Oxygen and Vitamin B2.
- This indicates that in persons afflicted with Cataracts, excessive Vitamin B2 is more harmful than beneficial.
Cataracts can Cause these Ailments
Eyes/Vision
Chronic Cataracts are often a cause of Blindness (treatable) - Cataracts are the leading cause of Blindness in the world.
Blurred Vision is one of the symptoms of Cataracts.
Myths Dispelled
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is often avoided by orthodox medical practitioners due to UNFOUNDED fears that it can cause Cataracts and other changes within the human Eye:
- This aspect of DMSO toxicology has been extensively tested in both animals and humans: the results clearly show that DMSO does NOT cause Cataracts in humans even at extremely high dosages for periods up to two years. No adverse changes were found in human or monkey eyes after prolonged, high levels (up to 30 times the usual dosage) of DMSO treatment.
- The myth regarding DMSO's toxicity to human Eyes arises from toxicology studies that show that DMSO DOES cause Cataracts and other changes in the Eyes of both dogs and rabbits, however the toxicity of DMSO to the eyes of these animals definitely differs from that of humans.
Vitamin B2 does NOT alleviate Cataracts - recent research has established that Vitamin B2 is contraindicated in persons afflicted with Cataracts (due to its ability to cause photosensitization, which can exacerbate the production of Free Radicals in the Eyes).
Types of Cataracts
Age-Related Cataracts are caused by the progression of the Aging Process.
Congenital Cataracts are Cataracts that are present at birth or shortly thereafter.
Secondary Cataracts are Cataracts that develop secondarily to other conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus.
Traumatic Cataracts are Cataracts that develop soon after or long after an Eye injury.
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