Cataracts
Background
The lens of the eye, which is what allows us to focus, is filled with a clear protein containing liquid. If the proteins in the liquid start to denature, they become cloudy. This can cause vision to get blurred.
Cataracts can be small and present at birth, occur (rarely) after eye injuries, and most often occur as people age, being hastened sometimes by diabetes or high blood pressure. The radiation/ultraviolet light increase seen at high altitudes can also increase risk.
Cataracts are not dangerous, but can impair vision.
Treatments
General Diet Advice
Avoid excess sugar
Avoiding excess sugar can help protect the lens in your eyes by preventing the denaturing of the proteins in them.
Recommended Supplements
Multivitamin powder
Optimizing antioxidant, zinc, and vitamin B2 intake via a good multivitamin powder can also help prevent the denaturing of the proteins in your eye lens.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (25,000-50,000 units a day). Use actual vitamin A and not beta carotene for this. Caution: This is a high dose, and should not be used in children, people with severe liver disease, or women who might get pregnant (it can cause birth defects) — people who usually do not have cataracts anyway. One ophthalmologist jokingly complained that his cataract surgery income dropped by 2/3 when he started adding the vitamin A.
Zeaxanthin, lutein , grapeseed extract and retinol
This mix is not only excellent for cataracts, but also for healthy vision at night.
N-acetyl carnosine
N-acetyl carnosine eyedrops (available as a product called "Can-C"). Use twice daily or follow label directions for severe cataracts. For early cataracts, if cost is an issue I simply recommend 1 drop in each eye each morning.
Bilberry
Bilberry (80 to 160 milligrams of a standardized 25% extract). Use 3 times daily.
Hachimijiogan
Chinese herbal mix Hachimijiogan (offered as "Clinical Nutrients for the Eyes," by Phytopharmica). Use 3 tablets daily.
Other Therapies & Advice
Sunglasses
If you have cataracts, wear UV blocking sunglasses on very sunny days to slow their progression.
Surgery
If the cataracts are still problematic after 6-12 months of these treatments, surgery is very reasonable. Unlike most surgery, if the cataracts are bothering you to where you think that you eventually will need the surgery (after using the above treatments), you should do the surgery sooner rather than waiting. It is simple surgery and can markedly improve vision. So if you are going to eventually do the surgery anyway, why put up with poor vision while waiting?
One more thought…
Want to help people in poverty who can’t afford cataract surgery? I heartily recommend supporting the SEVA Foundation, which sends volunteer surgeons into high-altitude areas where cataracts blind millions of people unnecessarily. For a few dollars each, they can give blind people back their sight — and have done so for over 3 million people!