1. Pay Attention to the Lighting in Your Environment
Certain bright lights may cause pain and headaches. Some lights may be far too bright for your sensitivity, while others may be too dim. Your sensitivity may fluctuate depending on dozens of factors. To get better control over the light you intake, invest in dimmer switches for the lights in your house.
2. Get the Right Contact Lenses and Eyeglass Prescriptions
While the process can be frustrating and time consuming, zeroing in on the perfect eyeglass prescription can help you manage the symptoms of your congenital cataracts. You can wear sunglasses during the day (over your prescription lenses) to reduce glare and exposure to UV radiation. Use a magnifying glass to examine fine print. The more instruments you have around that can magnify, brighten, dim or otherwise refocus the world around you, the easier it will be to manage your congenital cataracts. You can get helpful hints about tools from online cataract support groups as well.
3. Stay Healthy to Avoid Exacerbating the Condition
While you can't cure cataracts simply with a better diet, stress-free living and reduced exposure to the sun, you can prevent making symptoms worse and generally improve the health of your visual system. Stay out of the sun. In particular, block ultraviolet B radiation using sunscreen and time controls (to avoid overexposure). Avoid smoking or heavy drinking, which can bombard the body with so-called free radicals, which can boost your risk of eye problems, including cataracts.
4. Treat Other Medical Conditions With the Appropriate Therapies and Meds
Don't over-strain your eyes by reading in dim light, focusing on a computer screen for hours every day or engaging in an activity (like staring contests with grandchildren) that might strain the eye muscle or nerve. Finally, eat a diet rich in antioxidants and low in simple carbohydrates. Studies suggest that phytonutrients in vegetables and some fruits may be useful in preventing cataracts or at least limiting their severity.
