Cataracts occur when the eye's lens gradually becomes cloudy or yellow--causing blurriness. They affect all older adults. However, many doctors follow the disease's progression hoping to postpone surgery until the cataracts interfere with function. Opting for surgery depends on several factors including general health, other eye conditions and visual requirements to perform vocational or recreational activities. Treatment also includes environmental adaptations and alternative approaches that include vitamins, minerals, acupressure, herbs, homeopathic remedies and stress reduction.
Surgical Treatments
According to the National Eye Institute, the lens is the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, creating an image on the retina. Cataract surgery involves removing the hazy lens and replacing it with an artificial one that restores some of the eye's ability to focus. Early surgical procedures during developed World War II met with many problems including use of glass implants that were too heavy, difficulties keeping the implants inside the eye, infections, complications related to anesthesia, long recovery times and the need to wear thick "cataract glasses" afterward. Dr. Gary H. Cassel, Michael D. Billig and Dr. Harry G. Randall, authors of "The Eye Book," describe the many benefits of the modern day "microsurgery revolution" including special microscopes designed to give doctors a better view of the eye structures during surgery, local anesthesia, advanced instruments, smaller incisions, finer sutures to stitch up the wound, shorter recovery periods and greater likelihood that vision will be good after surgery.
Treatment for Diabetics
According to Drs. Donald S. Fong and Robin Demi Ross, authors of "The Diabetes Eye Care Sourcebook," cataract surgery for diabetics is very complicated and it is common for leakage to occur from the retina--resulting in poor vision. The retina may already be damaged before the cataract surgery, further compromising the results. Sometimes correcting high blood sugar levels will resolve changes in the eye's lens. The National Eye Institute reports that people who cannot undergo cataract surgery may be treated with soft contact lenses or glasses with high magnification.
Environmental Adaptations
Environmental adaptations help low vision patients maximize use of remaining vision and live as independently as possible. Ophthalmologists can make a referral for a specially training occupational therapist to come into the patient's home to provide services. These services may include recommendations such as how to achieve optimal lighting, ways to decrease or avoid glare and methods to increase color contrast. The therapist might demonstrate or describe use of adaptive devices such as a needle threading machine, talking glucose monitor, bold lined paper and large print cross word puzzles. These services are paid for by the government's Medicare program.
Alternative Approaches to Prevent or Treat Cataracts
According to Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and Dr. James F. Balch, authors of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," cataracts become more common in the aging population as the eyes lose the ability to resist free radicals. Free radicals are produced when atoms or molecules have unpaired electrons and can damage cells during oxidation reactions. Foods and supplements can provide what is called "anti-oxidants" that limit the damage caused by this process. Drs. Marc Grossman and Glen Swartwout, authors of "Natural Eye Care," believe that free radicals are responsible for most cataracts and that lifestyle changes that include avoiding smoke, drugs, heavy metals such as mercury and consuming a natural diet, vitamins, minerals and herbs--can reverse the symptoms of cataracts. They also recommend drinking up to eight glasses of water a day, use of traditional Chinese medicine to improve kidney and liver function, acupressure, homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies such as gingko and bilberry, eye exercises to bring blood to the eyes and stress management to achieve overall health.
References
- "Cataract: What You Should Know"; National Eye Institute; 2003
- "The Diabetes Eye Care Sourcebook"; Donald S. Fong, M.D., M.P.H. and Robin Demi Ross, M.D.; 1998
- "The Eye Book"; Gary H. Cassel, M.D., Michael D. Billig, O.D. and Harry G. Randall, M.D.; 1998
- "Natural Eye Care"; Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. and Glen Swartwout, O.D.;
- "Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James f. Balch, M.D.; 2000
