As a leader in the vision health industry, Lake Nona Eye Care receives lots of questions from our patients. One we get often is, How can I prevent getting cataracts?
While making a few lifestyle changes can reduce your chances of getting and even delaying the onset of cataracts, we don’t have a sure-fire way to prevent them.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology , “Cataracts affect more than 24.4 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 75, approximately half of all Americans have cataracts.”
What Causes Cataracts?
The natural aging process is the most common cause of cataracts, but medical problems, an injury to the eye, inherited genetic disorders, family history, long term use of steroid medications, and spending time in the sun without proper eye protection can contribute.
How Do Cataracts Form?
The Mayo Clinic explains, “The lens, where cataracts form, is positioned behind the colored part of your eye (iris). The lens focuses light that passes into your eye, producing clear, sharp images on the retina — the light-sensitive membrane in the eye that functions like the film in a camera. As you age, the lenses in your eyes become less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Age-related and other medical conditions cause tissues within the lens to break down and clump together, clouding small areas within the lens.”
So, it is definitely something to be concerned about, making eye health a priority in your life can make all the difference.
Eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants (vitamin C and E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin) can help slow their growth if you already have them or reduce your chances of getting them.
If you smoke, stop! Not only is it bad for your overall health, it creates more free radicals in your eye.
The ultraviolet light from the sun damages the proteins in your lens, so wear sunglasses when you go outside during the day.
If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control. High blood sugar can cause the lens to swell and create sorbitol, which can contribute to cataracts.
Make sure you get regular eye exams. Catching any eye issue early is the key to a lifetime of healthy vision.
Contact Lake Nona Eye Care for more information or stop by one of our convenient locations two Lake Nona Locations, Moss Park: 407-658-9990 and Eagle Creek: 407-930-5305