People experiencing symptoms associated with cataracts should see an eye care professional. The care provider can make a diagnosis and help determine which treatment or combination of therapies is most appropriate.

Eye care professionals can detect cataracts with the following tests:

• Visual acuity test -- measures vision at various distances
• Pupil dilation -- the pupil is widened with eye drops to reveal more of the lens and retina
• Tonometry -- measures fluid pressure inside the eye

Prevention

• Wear ultraviolet (UV)-blocking sunglasses
• Abstain from smoking cigarettes

Certain medications may help delay cataract formation (particularly in those with diabetes or other high-risk conditions), but none are known to reverse the progression of cataracts once they form.

Drug Therapies

• Eye drops (containing phenylephrine and homatropine) may be prescribed to dilate the pupil and provide better vision in some individuals
• Aldose reductase inhibitors may help prevent or delay cataract formation in people with diabetes
• Antibiotics and steroid eye drops may be prescribed following the removal of cataracts

Surgical and Other Procedures

In its early stages, a cataract usually does not interfere with vision. Over time, however, a cataract may grow larger and cloud over more of the lens, making it difficult to see.

When cataracts cause vision loss that interferes with everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching television, surgery is the only effective treatment. An eye care professional may also recommend that an individual have a cataract removed if the patient has other eye conditions, if the cataract threatens to cause another eye disorder, or if the presence of the cataract prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem.

During surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced with a substitute lens. Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the United States today. According to the National Eye Institute, roughly 90% of people who have cataract surgery experience improved vision as a result.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

A comprehensive treatment plan for cataracts may include a range of complementary and alternative therapies.

Nutrition and Supplements

Nutritional tips include the following:

• Eliminate all suspected food allergens, including dairy (milk, cheese, eggs and ice cream), wheat (gluten), soy, corn, preservatives and chemical food additives. Your health care provider may want to test you for food allergies.
• Eat more antioxidant-rich foods (such as green, leafy vegetables and peppers) and berries (such as blueberries, cherries, and raspberries). Berries contain high levels of beneficial antioxidants for eye health.
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in such commercially baked goods as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise moderately, if tolerated, 5 days a week.

You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:

• A multivitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, D, the B-complex vitamins and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tbsp. of oil one to two times daily, to help decrease inflammation. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources.
• Vitamin C, 500 - 1,000 mg two to three times daily, as an antioxidant.
• Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant support.
• Alpha-lipoic acid, 25 - 50 mg twice daily, for antioxidant support.
• Lutein, 2 - 6 mg daily, for antioxidant support in eye health.
• Zeaxanthin, 1 - 10 mg daily, for antioxidant support in eye health.

Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting any treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

• Bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) standardized extract, 80 mg two to three times daily, for antioxidant and vision support.
• Ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ) standardized extract, 40 - 80 mg three times daily, for antioxidant support and blood flow.
• Green tea ( Camellia sinensis ) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.

Homeopathy

Although very few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider certain remedies for the treatment of cataracts based on their knowledge and experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Physical Medicine

Contrast hydrotherapy (alternating hot and cold water applications to the face or back of neck) may improve circulation to the head and facilitate the transport of nutrients to the eye. Hydrotherapy to eyes, head, or neck should be done only under supervision of a knowledgeable doctor.

The National Eye Institute estimates that vision improves in about 90% of people who have cataract surgery. Complications from surgery are rare, but can include infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, inflammation (pain, redness, swelling), loss of vision, or light flashes. With prompt medical attention, such problems can usually be treated successfully.

A health care provider may prescribe eye drops or medications to help healing and control the pressure inside the eye for a few days following surgery. An eye shield or eyeglasses may also be necessary. A health care provider will schedule eye exams as needed to check on progress.

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• Review Date: 8/7/2006
• Reviewed By: Ernest B. Hawkins, MS, BSPharm, RPh, Health Education Resources; and Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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