Cataracts

Description

Cataracts are an Eyesight Ailment characterized by the loss of transparency of the crystalline Lens of the Eyeball severe enough to impair (blur) vision.

 The population at greatest risk of Cataracts are those aged over 55 years.

 5% of persons aged 65 years or over have visually significant Cataracts.

 50% of persons aged 75 years or over have visually significant Cataracts.

Amino Acids

 Carnitine may help to prevent Cataracts:  ^[1]

 Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) (1,500 mg per day) may help to prevent Cataracts (by preventing Simple Sugars from causing Cross-Linking [glycosylation] of the body's endogenous Proteins within the Eyes).  ^[2]

 Cysteine may help to prevent Cataracts: 

 N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[3]

 Ethylene-Diamine-Tetra-Acetate (EDTA) - the synthetic Amino Acid used in Chelation Therapy may alleviate (small) Cataracts. 

 Histidine deficiency may result in Cataracts (diets that exclude Histidine result in Cataracts within three weeks).  ^[4]

 Methionine deficiency may cause Cataracts and Methionine supplementation helps to prevent the development of Cataracts. 

 Cataracts may occur as a result of Phenylalanine deficiency.  ^[5]

 Taurine may help to prevent (and also possibly reverses) Cataracts by inhibiting the ^[6] process in the Lens of the Eye that is an underlying cause of Cataracts.  ^[7]

Antioxidants

 Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[8]

Carbohydrates

 Viscoat (a synthetic Pharmaceutical Drug that contains Chondroitin Sulfate and the Sodium Hyaluronate form of Hyaluronic Acid) protects the Eyes against corneal loss during Cataract surgery (it must be administered via injection by a suitably qualified medical practitioner).  ^[9]

Carotenoids

 Alpha-Carotene may help to prevents Cataracts.  ^[10]

 Beta-Carotene may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[11]

 Lutein may protect against the development of Cataracts (by protecting the Cells of the Eyes from Light-generated Free Radicals) and retards the further progression of Cataracts.  ^[12]

 Lycopene may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[13]

 Zeaxanthin may protect against the development of Cataracts and retards the further progression of Cataracts (by protecting the Cells of the Eyes from Light-generated Free Radicals).  ^[14]

Enzymes

 Glutathione Peroxidase may prevent Cataracts (by exerting Antioxidant effects in the Lens of the Eye).  ^[15]

 Glutathione Reductase may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[16]

 Optimal levels of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in the Lens of The Eye may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[17]

Hormones

 Melatonin may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[18]

Lipids

 Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[19]

Minerals

 Calcium (500 mg per day) may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[20]

 Optimal Copper levels may help to prevent Cataracts. 

 Germanium may retard the progression of Cataracts (by preventing the Cross-Linking of the tissues of the Lens of the Eye).  ^[21]

 Cataracts may occur as a result of Magnesium deficiency.  ^[22]

 Selenium may help to prevent Cataracts (due to its role in the production of Glutathione Peroxidase, an endogenous Antioxidant that protects the Lens of the Eye from Cataracts):  ^[23]

 The Selenium content of Cataract-afflicted Lenses is only 15% of those found in normal, healthy Lenses.

 Zinc (especially the Zinc Aspartate form) may retard the further progression of Cataracts.  ^[24]

Organic Acids

 Rosmarinic Acid may help to prevent Cataracts.  ^[25]

Peptides

 Carnosine concentrates in the Lens of the Eyes where it may help to prevent Cataracts (via its Antioxidant properties).  ^[26]

 N-Acetyl-Carnosine eye drops may improve the condition of existing Cataracts.

 Glutathione (usually via its incorporation into the GlutathionePeroxidase enzyme) may prevent Cataracts (due to Glutathione Peroxidase exerting Antioxidant effects in the Lens of the Eye).  ^[27]

Prescribed Medications

 Aspirin may prevent Cataracts - Aspirin may inhibit ^[6] in the Lens of the Eye that is a causative factor in the development of Cataracts:  ^[29]