A cataract is an eye condition that occurs when the lens inside your eye turns cloudy. This results in changes to your vision. These changes happen slowly, and many people do not notice a decrease in vision until they have difficulty reading or performing other tasks. Cataract surgery is the only known way of restoring vision, but in an effort to avoid surgery, many people turn to supplements, such as magnesium chloride. However, these supplements do not treat cataracts.
Formation
Your lens is made up of mostly water and protein, configured and set in such a way that light will refract off the lens and land on the back of your eye, an essential part in the visual process. As the cataract forms, the changes that occur in your natural lens result from breakdown of the cells that make up the lens. The proteins gather together, forming clumps and preventing light from passing through the lens properly. Once the protein cells are damaged, treatment cannot restore the lens.
Magnesium Chloride
Magnesium is a necessary mineral in your body, essential to body processes such as nerve function, muscle function, immune system support and strong bones, explains the Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium chloride is a magnesium supplement often recommended when you do not have the appropriate levels of magnesium in your system. This supplement may offer essential nutrients for a person with depleted magnesium levels, but magnesium chloride does not have any benefit in slowing down or treating the progression of cataracts.
Prevention
Selecting foods rich in antioxidants may help you prevent cataract formation. These nutrients may include vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin. In addition, you can make lifestyle changes that may also help you prevent cataracts. Smoking increases your risk, so you should work with your doctor to stop smoking. Wear sunglasses when outdoors to prevent extended exposure to ultraviolet rays, and keep control of your health conditions, such as diabetes. Your doctor can help you identify risk factors particular to you, and she can also help you make strides in preventing cataracts and other eye diseases.
Considerations
Side effects of magnesium chloride include gastric upset, muscle cramps and mood changes. To avoid these or any other side effects, you should only use this supplement if it is recommended by your doctor for a health condition, such as a magnesium deficiency, which would require additional magnesium.
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