Cataract: how to preserve vision

Cataract is a common eye disease that is diagnosed in practically all elderly people. With cataract, the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, so it can no longer project images onto the retina. If the lens becomes completely opaque, a person becomes completely blind in that eye.

Cataracts can be provoked by smoking, alcohol, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and thyroid problems. All these factors affect the body’s metabolic processes, which accelerate the clouding of the eye’s lens. Therefore, to delay the onset of this disease and preserve vision, it is necessary to take proper care of yourself and your eye health.

Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E can halve the risk of developing cataracts. These vitamins are abundant in cabbage, potatoes, currants, citrus fruits, parsley, onions, rose hips, carrots, animal liver, eggs, nuts, broccoli, sunflower seeds, and vegetable oil. With proper eye care, it is enough to consume at least one or two of these foods daily.

Preventively, it is necessary to visit an endocrinologist who will perform hormone tests to determine whether they are contributing to cataract development. If necessary, the endocrinologist will take measures to address thyroid pathology and prescribe the appropriate treatment. It is advisable to visit such a specialist at least once a year to detect changes in the eyes in time and prevent further cataract progression.

Good lighting is essential when working at a computer, reading, or writing. If the room is dark, the eye’s lens experiences additional strain, accelerating metabolic processes that eventually lead to lens clouding. If you are forced to work in the evenings, get a desk lamp to make tasks easier for your eyes.

Also, get sunglasses and be sure to wear them when it is sunny outside. This will help protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays, which damage the lens. It is best to choose sunglasses with glass lenses rather than plastic, to ensure quality eye protection.

The final measure to preserve vision with cataracts is surgical operation, during which the lens is replaced. Naturally, after this radical procedure, a person will not see as well as before, but it is still better than complete blindness.