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Average Age for Cataract Surgery is Dropping

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The risk for cataracts increases as we age, but the average age for cataracts is dropping. Around one to two percent of all cataract surgery patients are in their early 40s, but many young people are unaware that they already have a developing cataract.

A recent study by the Mayo Clinic found that more people are choosing cataract surgery at a younger age. The study examined cataract procedures done from 2005 to 2011 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and 20 percent of the surgeries were performed on patients younger than age 65.

How do you know that you have a cataract? Some people have described a cataract as “looking through a dirty, Vaseline-smudged window.” Cataracts are more noticeable in bright light, so playing outside or going to the beach can make vision seem extremely hazy and blurred. Because cataracts never improve and only worsen over time, it is only advantageous to have the cataract removed when it interferes with daily tasks and affects quality of life.

According to Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele, chair of the cataract clinical committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, doctors are seeing that their younger patients are less willing to accept the annoyance of a cataract and want to have surgery sooner. Braga-Mele points out that the baby boomer population (those who are in their 50s and 60s) wants to eliminate “any hurdle to their independence” and often want to have cataracts removed sooner rather than later.

Certain careers may also influence whether a person wishes to have cataract surgery earlier. Katie Roberts, age 37, has had cataract surgery on both eyes. Her first procedure was at age 32. As a firefighter, she relies on clear vision and wanted to have cataract surgery as early as possible. Other individuals may not be bothered by a developing cataract and may want to wait until it gets worse to have it removed.

Thanks to developing technology, ophthalmologists can detect cataracts earlier nowadays, and new methods have made cataract surgery less invasive than ever (Source: Today).

Foods that Fight Cataracts

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Although the exact cause of cataracts is unclear, research suggests that free radicals, or oxidation, may be to blame. Free radicals are unstable chemicals formed in the body when we are exposed to environmental toxins. These harmful chemicals can be found in air, food and water. As pollutants increase in our environment, free radical damage is also on the rise. When free radicals come into contact with our cell membranes or DNA, they can cause cell weakness or cell death. Oxidation is linked to every degenerative disease such as cancer, heart disease, natural aging and cataracts. Oxidation can damage the proteins and enzymes in the lens of the eye and cause cataracts to form.

If free radicals are the villain, antioxidants are the ultimate superhero. Antioxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals before cell damage occurs. The most prominent antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium. Since the body cannot synthesize antioxidants, they must be incorporated into the diet. This is the perfect time of year to find fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants that protect your eyes from cataracts.

Vitamin E has many other health benefits besides protection against cataracts. It protects your skin from UV rays, allows cells to communicate with one another and protects you from prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Good sources of vitamin E are sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, dark leafy greens, and papaya.

Beta-carotene is known to protect against cancer and aging as well as prevent cataract formation. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is best to pair your food source of beta carotene with a fat like nuts or oil to aid in absorption. The best sources of beta-carotene are sweet potatoes, kale, carrots, turnip and mustard greens, spinach, and butternut squash.

Vitamin C may be helpful in fighting cataracts by slowing their progression. The American Optometric Association recommends at least 250 mg of daily vitamin C for optimum eye health. Five servings of various fruits and vegetables provide 100 grams or more of this powerful antioxidant, but there are a few vitamin C superstars. The green hot chili pepper reigns supreme with an impressive 243 mg/100 g serving. If you like to kick up the heat, you can get all your daily vitamin C from just four of these spicy little guys! Other good sources of vitamin C are guavas, bell peppers, dark leafy greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kiwi, papaya and the poster child for vitamin C the orange.

With the beautiful colors and varieties of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants, you have many choices for healthy, nutritious foods to protect you from free-radical damage. Go treat yourself to a trip to the produce section of your grocery store or a local vegetable stand to keep those eyes healthy and keep cataracts away!

Eating to Prevent Cataracts

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Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness today. Although the cause of cataracts is not known, doctors believe that oxidative stress damages enzymes and proteins in the lens, which causes the lens to become cloudy. What is oxidative stress? It is an imbalance between free radicals (highly reactive atoms which damage cells in our body) and antioxidants that neutralize them. Free radicals can originate from pollution, chemicals, UV rays, smoking or eating unhealthy food.

Oxidative stress damages fats and proteins in the lens of the eye and causes the lens to become cloudy and develop a cataract. There is no cure for cataracts, but some doctors suggest that a diet high in antioxidants and specific vitamins can help reduce the risk of cataracts or even delay cataract progression.

To reduce the risk of cataracts, you should treat yourself to 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, three servings of 100 percent whole grains every day and two servings of fish every week for maximum variety of vitamins and minerals. Choose dark leafy greens and a rainbow of vegetables and fruits, which provide beneficial antioxidants. Select various sources of dairy to boost your calcium intake, and consider taking a folic acid supplement.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to eye health and potentially reduced risk of cataracts. The best source of omega-3 fatty acids is flax seeds, offering 133 percent of the daily value (DV). Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are walnuts, fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, grass-fed beef, scallops, shrimp and tofu.

Vitamin C and combined intake of several antioxidants also appears to reduce the risk for cataracts. Vitamin C is one of the easier vitamins to find delicious and natural food sources in which to indulge. One of the best sources of vitamin C is not the orange but the guava, coming in at 380 percent of the daily value for a 100 gram serving. Coming in first place is the red or green chili pepper, at a whopping 404 percent of the daily value per 100 gram serving. Bell peppers come in third, and other top finishers are dark leafy greens, broccoli, kiwi and papaya.

There is also research on certain foods that seem to increase the likelihood of cataracts. One study published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science found that a diet high in carbohydrate was associated with the development of cataracts. After evaluating the eating habits of 1,600 adults, doctors discovered that the patients who were in the top 25 percent for carbohydrate consumption were three times more likely to develop cataracts (Source: AllAboutVision).

Cataracts: Sensitivity to Light and Glare

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Beyond seeing halos, experiencing double vision within one eye or seeing faded or yellow colors, cataracts can also cause sensitivity to light and glare. When a light source affects our ability to see clearly, we refer to it as glare. Glare can be grouped into two categories: discomfort glare and disability glare.

  • Discomfort glare is defined as a light source too strong for our eyes, usually it causes people to shade or close their eyes. An example of discomfort glare is leaving a dark room and moving into bright sunlight.
  • Disability glare can be caused by eye diseases and reduces our visual performance. These diseases make the eyes sensitive to normal light sources and levels of light.

The most common of these eye diseases is a cataract. Patients with cataracts have an eye lens that is not as clear as it should be and incoming light is scattered rather than following a usual path to the retina in the back of the eye. As a result, vision is blurred and coping with bright light is difficult. Patients with cataracts usually have a lot of issues with glare. The easiest way to cope with glare and light sensitivity is to limit the light coming into the eye. Using a hand to shade glare or wearing a wide-brimmed hat can reduce glare without much cost. Wearing tinted glasses can substantially reduce glare as well. When buying sunglasses, ensure they have a UV filter to protect eyes from harmful UV rays. Light activated sunglasses can also be helpful as they get darker in brighter conditions. Talk to a physician to learn more about your cataract symptoms and the treatment options available to you.