Fruits and Vegetables to Fight Cataracts

[elleng]

'Here’s another reason to eat your fruits and veggies: You may reduce your risk of vision loss from cataracts.

Cataracts that cloud the lenses of the eye develop naturally with age, but a new study is one of the first to suggest that diet may play a greater role than genetics in their progression.

Researchers had about 1,000 pairs of female twins in Britain fill out detailed food questionnaires that tracked their nutrient intake. Their mean age was just over 60.

The study participants underwent digital imaging of the eye to measure the progression of cataracts. The researchers found that women who consumed diets rich in vitamin C and who ate about two servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables a day had a 20 percent lower risk of cataracts than those who ate a less nutrient-rich diet.'>>>

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/25/fruits-and-vegetables-to-fight-cataracts/?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-

[hollysmom]

1. My mother in law was sure she would "cure" her cateracts by drinking grape juice

there is nothing you can do once they form. But it might no be veggie issues, Decades ago I was reading about how air traffic controllers developed cataracts more than the general public, and they thought the radiation of the old terminals had a lot to do with it. Idid notice that among my friends in IT, those who got on terminals early on had cataracts, but those of us still working on punch cards later in our career, did not. I am starting to wonder how much electronic "stuff" affects us.

[Ghost Dog]

2. I've spent hours most days in front of computer screens

over the last 40 years, and have a cataract.

I'm about to schedule surgery. My choice is between letting the local oftamologist (a young Argentinian woman) do it by hand (scalpel, ultrasound, artificial lens insertion), or travelling to a nearby city where there's a specialised clinic with computer-controlled lasser tech - or travelling to the top eye clinic in Spain, in Barcelona, for the same.

I need to stop hesitating...

[hollysmom]

3. OMG, that is a good reason to hesitate, but some things have to get done.

in truth, I have had friends who searched out the best doctors and had trouble and others who just had it done locally and did not have a problem, life happens. I would not be surprised if after care was not just as important. I have a cataracts in one eye that is annoying me, but I can still see pretty fine, the doctor said it is slow growing and I will probably die first. Kind of like the dentist asking me how long do I want to have my teeth last, ha ha .

I wish you the best, it is a scary thing.

[Ghost Dog]

4. Hey, thanks for your input, hollysmom!

Yeah, the possible aftercare factor is significant. Since I've chosen to live on this island I should accept the services it has to offer.

Thing is, though, if I move fast, I'll be travelling to Switzerland in support of some musicians soon after the op... Or, further delay.

Decisions, decisions (I'm not very used to dealing with medics directly ... Not now I'm a privately paying customer (private insurance - I'm not very covered by SS in Spain)).

But I think I'm moving it forward now. Thanks again, hollysmom.

PS. Don't even ask me about the teeth! Next job on the list.

You look after yourself now, you hear?

[SheilaT]

5. I tell people that cataracts were the very best thing that

ever happened to my eyes. A good twenty years ago my eye doctor noticed the beginnings of them. Nothing much happened until about three years ago, and my current eye doctor said, It's time for the surgery.

I can recall not being able to see the blackboard clearly even from the front row in first grade. I wore glasses for many years, then got contact lenses, and eventually the soft lenses. They were all good, of course, and I've always been grateful I was born in a time and place where I at least could get decent glasses.

Now, after the cataract surgery, my vision is just amazing. I still need reading glasses, which I don't mind at all, but my distance vision is absolutely amazing.

So yeah, go ahead and eat your fruit and veggies, but if you get cataracts don't hesitate one minute when the doctor says it's time for the surgery.

[elleng]

6. My Dad drank fresh orange juice most days of his life,

and still got cataracts. Had the surgery, as did I 2 years ago. Always had great distance vision, but became annoyed with halos @ night, so night driving became annoying.

Back to great distance vision, but selected the new lens just for distance, so now wear glasses for reading. No prob, tho.