Causes:

• Free radicals are responsible for most cataracts. They are natural byproducts of metabolism. These highly reactive chemicals cause oxidation, which in turn causes aging. As the lens of the eye ages, it hardens and loses its ability to focus. This process is similar to hardening of the arteries, and is often associated with changes in the joints.
• Chronic physical stress such as dental problems, physical injury to the vertebrae or neck, or any stress that reduces eye movement and increases muscle tension.
• Food Allergies or sensitivities, particularly involving dairy products, wheat and/or soy can congest the sinuses, impairing lymphatic and veinous drainage, resulting in decreased nutrition to the eyes.
• Toxins, pharmaceutical drug side effects, such as steroid drugs, or photosensitizing drugs such as gout medications, cholesterol lowering drugs, antibiotics and diuretics.
• Smoking - the risk in ex-smokers is 50 percent higher compared to non smokers. Each cigarette also robs the body of 25 mg of vitamin C. Smokers have an increase in lipids (both fat and cholesterol) which increase the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. These factors produce narrowing of the retina blood vessels that carry valuable nutrients to the eye.
• Diabetes and other diseases that affect multiple areas of the body such as hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. Diabetics develop cataracts at an earlier age than non- diabetics. An accumulation of sorbitol and fructose in the lens can induce osmotic swelling of the lens, which will lead to the development of a cataract.
• Poor nutrition and digestion. Nutritional deficiencies, such as in poor areas of Third World countries, can cause cataracts to develop early and progress faster. In every part of the world, people with poor digestion and chronic bowel problems have a fourfold higher incidence of cataracts.
• Heredity
• Aging of the Eyes - hardening of the lens occurs as we age.
• Sunlight - invisible ultraviolet light (UV light) which is one of the light frequencies of sunlight promotes free-radical damage to the lens. The effects of UV light are cumulative over time.
• Alcoholic Consumption - High intake of alcohol more than doubles the risk of developing cataracts. More than 7 drinks per week will increase the risk, while moderate use does not seem to increase the risk.

These drugs can cause or worsen cataracts: (see "Drugs That Harm the Eyes" for a more complete list of harmful drugs:)

Photosensitizing drugs (drugs that make you more sensitive to the sun) are drugs that absorb light energy and undergo a photochemical reaction resulting in chemical modification of tissue. They can make you more susceptible to cataracts and macular degeneration. The following is a list of those drugs:

• Antihistamines
• Birth control pills
• Tranquilizers
• Sulfa drugs
• Oral anti-diabetic drugs
• Antidepressants
• NSAIDS (for example aspirin, ibuprofen, advil, meclofen)
• Steroids - may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts. Steroids work by mimicking the action of the body's own hormones to help control inflammation. They are usually prescribed for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Chrohn's Disease,and lupus. Long- term steroid use can cause posterior subcapsular cataracts and increases in intraocular pressure. These cataracts will develop in up to 50 per cent of people taking 10 to 15 milligrams of prednisone daily for one to two years. These cataracts are very dense and can cause a rapid loss of vision. They will not go away even after you stop the medication and will have to be surgically removed. Though not as common as cataracts, sustained treatment of steroids can cause a rise in intraocular pressure leading to glaucoma, though after the steroid use is stopped the intraocular pressure will return to normal. The bad news is any damage done by the rise in pressure will remain. Steroid use can also indirectly damage the eye by causing an increase in blood sugar therefore causing diabetes. If you must take steroids make sure you take high doses of anti-oxidants such as alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E , and lutein to help prevent cataract formation.
• Fluroquinone, terbinafine, mefloquine type antibiotics
• Glucocorticoids (Prednisone)
• Eretinate, isoretinoin

Conventional Treatment:

Surgery is the most common treatment for removing cataracts. Following are the three major methods:

• Extracapsular surgery: The lens is removed except for the back half of its outer covering.
• Phacoemulsification: Only the lens core is removed after breaking it up with ultrasound.
• Intracapsular: The entire lens and its capsule are removed. (This is rarely done.)

Complementary Treatment and Recommended Products

Essential: GSH 250 90 caps - GSH 250 90 caps - Helps build glutathione in the body. Studies show that people with cataracts tend to be deficient in glutathione and vitamin C in the lens of their eyes related to cataracts.

Essential: Vitamin C 500 mg w/ Bioflavenoids - Vitamin C 500 mg w/ Bioflavnoids 220 Caps

Essential: Cineraria Cataract Eye Drops - Cineraria Cataract Eye Drops - the traditional homeopathic remedy found in the Ophthalmology section of the Physicians Desk reference for over 25 years as a treatment for cataracts.

Essential: Brite Eyes II - Brite Eyes II offers protection to the lens of the eyes from glycation (the binding of sugar and protein molecules) that occurs in the eye lens.

Helpful: MSM Eyedrops 1 oz (30ml) - MSM eyedrops permit better eye health

Helpful: Pure Focus - Pure Focus liquid based formula for vision health.

• Reduce or eliminate drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame (labeled diet foods)and man made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil).
• Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our cataract recipe is some combination of the following: raspberries, watermelon, carrots, spinach, celery, radish (not too much fruit). For more information, go to "Click Here"
• Eliminate deep fat fried foods, monosodium glutanate (MSG) used as a flavor enhancer which is a potential retinal toxin (Inv Oph 1996; 37: 1618-24), and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids (Argus, August 1996;19:18:July 1996;19:22).
• Limit your alcohol consumption to 1 glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels (Alcohol 1993;10;469-75).
• Eliminate smoking. Smoking among other things produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
• Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as One Plus Multivitamin (see website for more information) and/or a good Green Drink (see Paleogreens).
• Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription as much as possible. Make sure to work closely with your doctor.
• Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
• Avoid microwaves. Leakage from microwave ovens are a direct cause of cataracts, so avoid peeking into the oven door window while you cook. In addition, food proteins exposed to microwaves can become toxic to the lens, which is made up mostly of proteins.
• Managing your emotional health is very important in maintaining physical health. Fear (fear of failure, responsibility, of being alone, of death, etc.) is at the root of many of life's problems, and is a major factor in many diseases. Take up the practice of meditation, yoga, tai chi, prayer, etc.

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