Home Remedies to Reduce The Risk of Cataracts

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A cataract is defined as a thick and cloudy area in the lens of your eyes. This happens due to the breakdown of the protein in your eyes which makes your vision blurry or hazy. While cataracts develop slowly over time, they can interfere with your vision and daily activities. Although cataract surgeries are the best way to treat them, a few home remedies can reduce the risk of cataracts over time.

  • Home Remedies To Reduce The Risk Of Cataracts
  • Diagnosis
  • Best Foods For Cataracts
  • Prevention Tips
  • Types Of Cataracts
  • Causes Of And Risk Factors For Cataracts
  • Signs And Symptoms Of Cataracts

Home Remedies To Reduce The Risk Of Cataracts

1. Castor Oil

Castor oil exhibits powerful antioxidant properties (2). This may help repair the oxidative damage caused to the eyes.

2. Vitamins

Preliminary studies show that vitamins C and D may help prevent or slow down the progression of cataracts (466170/' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >3), (4). Hence, consume foods rich in these vitamins, like citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, avocados, and almonds.

Note: Consult a doctor before taking additional supplements for these vitamins.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Rat studies show that apple cider vinegar has antioxidant properties (5). Thus, regular consumption of apple cider vinegar may help prevent vision disorders and damage to the retina.

4. Essential Oils

Frankincense and lavender essential oils exhibit great antioxidant potential (6), (7). Hence, they may help improve vision by preventing oxidative damage to the eye.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is an anti-inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant (8). It may provide nourishment to the eyes and reduce or delay the signs of cataracts and other eye abnormalities.

6. Coconut Water

Coconut water is packed with electrolytes and has antioxidant potential (9). This may help in reducing oxidative damage caused to the eyes.

7. Flax seed Oil

Flax seed oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids (10). Omega-3 fatty acids exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities (11). This may help reduce the risk of eye disorders, like macular degeneration and cataracts.

What You Have To Do

Add half to one tablespoon of flax seed oil to your favorite dish or smoothie.

8. Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, which is a strong antioxidant (12). This may repair oxidative damage in the eyes.

9. Ginger

Ginger exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (13), (14). These properties may help reduce inflammation and repair oxidative damage to the eyes.

10. Ginkgo Biloba

Gingko biloba has strong antioxidant properties (15). This may protect the lens from cataract formation.

What You Have To Do

Take 40-120 mg of ginkgo biloba supplements after consulting your doctor.

11. Green Tea

Green tea is packed with polyphenols that are powerful antioxidants (16). These polyphenols may help protect the eye lens from further damage and reverse existing cataracts to a certain extent.

12. Honey

Honey is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound (17). It may help treat existing damage to the eye lens and may also prevent future issues.

13. Lemon Juice

The citric acid present in lemon juice has antioxidant properties (18). Rat studies showed that it might help reduce the risk of cataracts (18).

14. Onion Juice

Onion is a rich source of flavonoids and was found to prevent cataract formation in rat studies (19).

15. Wheatgrass Juice

Wheat grass is rich in beta-carotene and also exhibits antioxidant properties (20). This may make wheatgrass an excellent home remedy for reducing the risk of cataracts.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this on a regular basis.

Faster diagnosis of cataracts may assure faster treatment and can prevent further complications in the eyes.

Diagnosis

Learn more

Doctors may run the following tests to look for a developing cataract:

  • A comprehensive eye test that includes an eye chart test to check the distant vision and a tonometry test to measure your eye pressure.
  • Testing the eye’s sensitivity to glare.
  • Testing how you perceive colors.

In addition to the remedies, one must also eat right. Given below are some foods that may help delay the development of cataracts.

Best Foods For Cataracts

Since excess oxidative stress is believed to be one of the main causes of cataracts, foods rich in antioxidants may help. Consume foods like:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Guavas
  • Bell peppers
  • Papaya
  • Broccoli

Beta-carotene rich foods may also help delay or prevent cataract formation. A few of them include:

  • Carrots
  • Sweet potato
    • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Turnip

You may also follow these prevention tips to prevent the formation of cataracts.

Prevention Tips

Cataracts may be classified into different types based on their cause and where they develop.

Types Of Cataracts

The different types of cataracts include:

  • Nuclear Cataracts: These are formed in the center of the lens and may cause the nucleus of the lens to turn brownish or yellowish.
  • Cortical Cataracts: These are wedge-shaped and are formed around the nucleus (center) of the lens.
  • Posterior Cataracts: These affect the back of the lens and are formed faster than the former types.
  • Congenital Cataracts: These cataracts are present at birth or may surface during the child’s first year.
  • Secondary Cataracts: Secondary cataracts are often a result of health conditions like diabetes and glaucoma or medications like steroids.
  • Traumatic Cataracts: Cataracts that are a result of trauma to the eyes over the years are called traumatic cataracts.
  • Radiation Cataracts: As the name suggests, this type of cataract occurs after an individual undergoes radiation for cancer.

Let’s look at the various causes of cataracts and risk factors of the condition.

Causes Of And Risk Factors For Cataracts

Cataracts may occur due to:

  • Overproduced oxidants
  • Trauma or injury
  • Radiation
  • Medications like steroids
  • Smoking
  • Exposure to ultraviolet radiation
  • Medical issues like diabetes and glaucoma
    • Smoking

Factors that may put a person at a higher risk of developing cataracts include:

  • Advancing age
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Past injuries to your eye
  • A history of cataracts in your family

The following are some of the most common signs that surface with the development of cataracts.

Signs And Symptoms Of Cataracts

Cataracts may develop in anybody at any point in time. Hence, they need to be treated as early as possible to prevent them from progressing and worsening your eyesight. It is important to remember that the above list of home remedies may only help in delaying the risk of cataracts and not treat the condition. If you are looking for treatment options for cataracts, seek medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average age for cataracts?

Individuals aged between 41-60 years and above are commonly affected by cataracts. This clearly shows that advancing age is one of the leading risk factors for this condition.

What will happen if a cataract is left untreated?

Cataracts may cause legal blindness if left untreated. When not treated for longer periods, they may cause total blindness.

Can you remove a cataract without surgery?

Currently, some eye drops are being tested for dissolving cataracts without the need for surgery. Also, the natural remedies mentioned above may help in reducing the risk of cataracts.

How long does it take to get a cataract removed?

Surgery for cataracts hardly takes 10 minutes. However, the blurriness after surgery may take anywhere between 24 hours to even two weeks (in rare cases) to clear.

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