| Cataracts and Vitamin supplements, is there any | | | | is diminished. |
| possible way that vitamins and minerals could help | | | | As the condition advances, sensitivity to light |
| in reducing your risk of getting cataracts. The | | | | increases, and driving at night may become |
| simple answer is yes. And with over 300 | | | | especially difficult. In the most advanced cases, |
| prescribed medications being contributors to this | | | | the pupil, which is normally black, becomes |
| condition, it makes preventive steps even that | | | | yellowish or milky, and you may be only able to |
| much more important. | | | | distinguish light from dark. |
| Your eyes are your vessel to everything you do | | | | So how exactly do vitamins and nutrients help in |
| in life, and protecting this vessel may be the most | | | | preventing cataracts, or at least diminishing the |
| important thing you can do for yourself. | | | | affects? |
| There are always medical opinions that will say | | | | Certain vitamins play a very significant role in our |
| that supplements have no benefit on any type of | | | | bodies as antioxidants, and antioxidants. Vitamins |
| condition, and remember it took the medical | | | | C, E, and Riboflavin, all play roles in our body in |
| community over 200 years to finally admit that | | | | preserving the levels of glutathione, an enzyme |
| Beriberi was caused by a thiamine deficiency. | | | | that protects the eye from oxidation. Glutathione |
| Vitamins A, C E, and the minerals zinc, selenium, | | | | is also believed to help protect the eyes against |
| and lutein, one of the 600 known carotenoids, are | | | | radiation and the affects of sunlight. |
| all critical in not only helping in the prevention of | | | | Vitamin A palmitate, which is a form of vitamin A, |
| cataracts, but also assisting in the prevention | | | | is absolutely essential fro proper vision; In fact, a |
| AMD, or age related macular degeneration, | | | | deficiency of this vitamin can very easily lead to |
| another progressive eye condition. | | | | night blindness. Unlike vitamin A acetate, which is |
| Cataracts are a very common problem that is | | | | what is used in vitamin A pills, this form of vitamin |
| mostly associated with people over 40 years of | | | | A is a spray form commonly used in foods, and is |
| age and is estimated to affect over 20 million | | | | a combination of retinol, which is pure vitamin A, |
| Americans and millions of people world wide. And | | | | and palmitic acid. |
| the aging process progresses, the risk becomes | | | | Vitamin E works in cohesion with Vitamin A, and is |
| even higher and the need for these nutrients | | | | essential for the development of the retina and |
| becomes even more important either from the | | | | also helps protect the eyes from free radical |
| food that we eat or in the form of supplements. | | | | damage, such as second hand smoke, that are |
| Statistics have also shown that the risk of | | | | associated with both cataracts as well as macular |
| developing cataracts is higher in women than in | | | | degeneration. |
| men, and also higher with in the African American | | | | Vitamin B2, Riboflavin, is also very important to |
| as well as the Hispanic populations. | | | | your eyes. It helps to strengthen the corneas |
| However, age is not the only contributing factor in | | | | through a process known as collagen cross linking. |
| developing cataracts; sunlight, especially UV | | | | This process has been approved by the FDA for |
| sunlight, dehydration, alcohol, heredity, smoking | | | | treatment of progressive eye diseases such as |
| and second hand smoke are also major | | | | keratonconus and corneal ectasia, so it is only |
| contributors to this condition. | | | | natural to also be vey effective in preventing |
| Obesity and high sugar intake, Diabetes, as well as | | | | cataracts. |
| antacids are also known contributors, as well as | | | | The mineral selenium is effective as it helps your |
| over 300 prescribed medications that can speed | | | | body absorb vitamin E, and chromium plays a |
| up the formation of cataracts. As we all get older, | | | | critical role of preserving the strength of smaller |
| we naturally will take more prescribed | | | | blood vessels, especially those found in the eyes |
| medications, all more reasons to eat properly and | | | | and around the retina. Chromium deficiency is also |
| supplement with nutrients. | | | | one of the major causes of diabetes, which is a |
| There are three types of cataracts, and although | | | | major cause of cataracts. |
| they all share some basic symptoms, they also | | | | Zinc, another mineral, plays an extremely |
| may have different symptoms. Although most | | | | important role as it helps to absorb and convert |
| all cataracts are age related, there are different | | | | vitamin A, considered the most important vitamin |
| types of cataracts including congenital, secondary, | | | | to the eyes, and also acts as an enzyme in |
| and traumatic cataracts. | | | | reducing free radicals. It has also been proven to |
| Congenital cataracts are where babies are born | | | | be very effective in preventing night blindness. |
| with the condition, which may or may not affect | | | | Lutein, however, may be the most important |
| vision, secondary cataracts usually develops from | | | | nutrient, and has only recently been shown to be |
| medical condition such as diabetes, prescribed | | | | a significant player in healthy eye. Lutein and |
| medications, steroids, or long term exposure to | | | | beta-carotene are antioxidants and help the eyes |
| sunlight, and traumatic cataracts may develop | | | | in several ways, including regulating eye cellular |
| right after an injury to the eye or, in some cases, | | | | growth and health, as well as ridding the body of |
| several years after an injury. | | | | extra cellular growth, especially important in both |
| In the early development stages of this condition, | | | | cataracts as well as macular denegation. |
| cataracts may have no affect or very little affect | | | | Our eyes are our vessels to life, and protecting |
| on vision. Symptoms will soon appear, however, | | | | them against cataracts, especially as we age, |
| and the first signs will be cloudy or double vision, | | | | may be one of the most important things you |
| images that take on a yellowish tint, and reading | | | | can do for yourself. |
| will become difficult as contrasting between letters | | | | |