A leading cause of poor vision and blindness are cataracts. It is often mistakenly believed that cataracts are a condition of aging, but this is not necessarily so.
When cataracts begin to form, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Normally they will develop in both eyes, but at different speeds so to speak. What this means is that one eye may form the cataracts more quickly than the other. Treatment is usually successful when cataracts are discovered early enough.
The eye lens works much the same as the lens of a camera. When working properly, it will allow light to pass through and it focuses it to the back of the eye at the retina. The retina will then signal the optic nerve which in turn sends a signal to the brain for interpretation. In a human being, a transparent protein is what forms the lens of the eye. When the cells of this protein lose rigidity and start to drift, a cataract forms. Of ten, this will result in noticeable changes in vision. As time progresses, these cells will congregate, and form a thick concentration of these cells. The lens of the eye begins to grow opaque and we have what is called a cataract. This of course hinders the ability of the lens to do its job.
As the condition worsens, more of these proteins will come together and eventually the lens becomes so cloudy that no light gets through at all, causing the person to have a complete loss of vision. If picked up early, this condition is completely reversible, so you will want to get to an optometrist when you begin to realize significant changes A unique character of the lens is ultimately what causes cataracts to develop. The lens of the eye has no direct blood supply. Blood is what nourishes your bodies cells giving them the minerals and vitamins needed to function properly. The lens of the instead, relies on aqueous humor, which is located behind the lens, to get its nourishment.
Cataracts are essentially cell damage. They develop because of their exposure to free radicals. Free radicals are thought to lead to not only a number of different eye diseases, but also other ailments in the body. When in the eye, the lens cannot get the necessary antioxidants that would reduce the damage.
We can associate free radicals with the foods we eat. If the food we are eating is of poor quality, more free radicals are produced. They can however, also enter the body when we are over-exposed to sunlight. As we age, more free radicals build up, causing even more damage to the body. This can explain why cataracts are most often associated with aging. There are other things that increase individual’s chances of developing cataracts. One of these is exposure to sunlight.
Exposure to sunlight or more specifically, the ultraviolet light in sunlight can create free radicals that will damage the lens of the eye. You should have a good pair of sunglasses that will reduce the amount of ultraviolet light that gets to your eyes. This is especially so if you live in a climate that produces lots of sunny days, or if you often work outdoors.
Other causes of cataracts include a poor diet and poor digestive system. You should avoid foods cooked in saturated and Trans fats. This is true for many reasons, but especially when caring for your eyes, because ultimately, failure to do so may results in your having to have cataract surgery so that you will once again be able to see clearly.
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