How Do You Prevent Cataracts?

Cataracts are painless, and treating them is relatively easy – but wouldn’t it be ideal if you didn’t get them in the first place? What are cataracts, and how can you prevent them?

What Causes Cataracts?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a quick and easy way to prevent cataracts. Cataracts are a “clouding” of the eye. They make it difficult to drive, read, and do all of the things you’d normally do during your day because you aren’t seeing things as sharply as you should – they make your vision cloudy or foggy.

You might have cataracts because of genetics, an eye condition, or even because of a health problem. However, they can also just be a product of getting older. As we age, fibers and proteins in the eye start to break down, which then clumps together and clouds the lens of the eye. Cataracts typically develop very slowly. They may affect vision only slightly at first, but over time they can get worse and worse.

Although you can’t prevent cataracts, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of getting them:

• Deal with health problems. If you have health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure, it can affect the health of your eyes and increase your risk of getting cataracts.
• Eat a healthy diet. One reason it is important to eat a healthy diet is that being obese can increase the odds you’ll get cataracts. But eating lots of fruits and veggies is also just good for the health of your eyes. Try to get lots of vitamin C by eating foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers, and eat green veggies, peanuts, and almonds for vitamin E – both of these vitamins are important for eye health.
• Wear sunglasses. Sunlight not only affects your skin – it can affect your eyes, too. Wearing sunglasses can help to protect your eyes from developing cataracts.
• Stop smoking. Smoking can do a lot of damage to your health, and smokers are almost three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop cataracts.

If you are concerned you may have cataracts, don’t wait – contact Southside Eye Care in Chesapeake, VA. Call (757) 484-0101 for an appointment today!