Table of contents:
- What are the steps to prevent cataracts?
- 1. Wear sunglasses when the weather is hot
- 2. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
- 3. Limit carbohydrate intake
- 4. Drink tea
- 5. Increase your intake of vitamin C
- 6. Consume vegetables
- 7. Check the eyes regularly
Cataract is a condition when the eye's lens, which should be transparent, turns cloudy. At first, you may not feel cataract symptoms until you finally feel blurry when you see or experience double vision. This is a sign your cataract is getting worse. So, what should be done as an effort to prevent cataracts?
What are the steps to prevent cataracts?
The main cause of cataracts is the aging process. That is why, cataract prevention measures have not been fully studied.
To date, there is no treatment to prevent or slow down the progression of cataracts. However, some lifestyle changes can help you slow down the process - or even prevent it altogether.
Here are ways you can prevent or slow down the progression of cataracts.
1. Wear sunglasses when the weather is hot
Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block out ultraviolet sunlight can help delay cataracts. This method may be able to prevent the appearance of cataracts.
Quoted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, in choosing glasses for cataract prevention, you need to choose glasses with features that can block 99 percent of ultraviolet (UV) rays. Long-term exposure to UV radiation in the sun can increase your risk of developing cataracts, eye diseases, and cancer.
UVB radiation is considered more harmful to eyes and skin than UVA radiation. Plastic and glass lenses can absorb some UV rays. However, UV absorption can be further enhanced by adding chemicals to the lens material.
2. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
Smoking is one of the risk factors that can cause you to develop cataracts. Therefore, the next step to prevent cataracts you can do is stop smoking.
If you have difficulty in trying to break this bad habit, try consulting a doctor or medical personnel. Your doctor will give you the best advice that can help you quit smoking.
Apart from smoking, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can also increase the risk. So, you can also try reducing alcohol consumption as a way to prevent cataracts.
3. Limit carbohydrate intake
Prevention of cataracts can then be done by limiting carbohydrate intake. A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that people who ate the most carbohydrates had three times the risk of cataracts than those who ate the least.
4. Drink tea
Green or black tea can save your eyesight. A study at Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found green and black teas can inhibit the development of cataracts, especially those related to diabetes.
5. Increase your intake of vitamin C
Increased vitamin C intake has been linked to a reduced risk of cataracts. A study published in Journal of Nutrition found that high levels of vitamin C reduced the risk of cataracts by 64 percent.
6. Consume vegetables
Intake of other nutrients, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin E and zinc, are also known to reduce the risk of a number of eye diseases, including cataracts. This means that consuming these nutrients can be one of the steps to prevent cataracts. Researchers also recommend eating more green leafy vegetables, fruit, and other foods with antioxidants.
However, you need to remember that intake lycopene moderately high levels — natural chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their red color — were associated with a 46 percent increased risk of eye cataracts.
In the study cited in an article in Harvard Health Publishing, researchers found that women aged 50-79 who ate a diet rich in lutein and zeaxanthin were less likely to develop cataracts. This substance is abundant in dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, radishes, and watercress.
That is why you may want to consult a nutritionist for the right advice regarding the best amount of food you need to eat.
7. Check the eyes regularly
Regular eye examinations can be one of your preventive measures against cataracts. With regular eye examinations, cataracts or any eye condition can be detected at an early stage. This will certainly make it easier for doctors to determine the right treatment.
Apart from the cataract prevention measures that have been mentioned above, you must also pay attention to your overall health problems. Follow the doctor's recommendations for dealing with the diseases you face, especially those that can increase the risk of cataracts.
