When the normally clear lens of the eye has a painless clouding, it is called a cataract. If you do not treat it in time, it causes blindness. However, surgical treatment can cure it in time. Most people over the age of 60 experience some clouding of the lens. But you can prevent or treat them by following the simple home remedies.
If you have cataracts or want to prevent them, do the following simple home remedies to solve the situation:
o Drink orange juice: Increasing your intake of vitamin C will reduce the risk of developing cataracts. It is recommended that you take double the recommended daily amount of vitamin C to protect against the appearance of cataracts. That means you should include 11/2 cup of strawberries, 1 cup of orange juice, or 2 oranges.
o Take beta-carotene and vitamin E: Research has shown that increasing your intake of beta-carotene and vitamin E offers some protection against cataracts. Eat more orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes for beta-carotene and almonds, fortified cereals, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds for vitamin E.
o Wear sunglasses or a hat: Covering your eyes with sunglasses or hats while in the sun has been shown to reduce the incidence of cataracts. Choose sunglasses that have UV protection. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on designer glasses. You can also buy the sunglasses in local stores.
o Don’t look away from harmful radiation: Whenever you are near a microwave, oven, or x-ray, always look away. Although many manufacturers claim that their microwaves are safe, it is always best to avoid looking at them to protect your eyes. The same goes for X-rays.
o Control your drinking habits: Drinking sporadic drinks will not harm your eyes. But drinking for a long time will definitely hurt your eyes. This is because alcohol interferes with the nutritional supplies of the lenses and thus leads to the formation of cataracts. Even alcoholics with good diets can get cataracts due to alcohol’s interference with the supply of nutrients to the eye.
o Stop smoking: Research has shown that smokers are more likely to develop cataracts than non-smokers. The toxic substances in cigarette smoke damage the nucleus of the lens and cause cataracts. When you stop smoking, you cut your risk of developing cataracts in half.
o Take pain relievers: People who take pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen have a reduced risk of developing cataracts. This is due to the fact that the faster your body uses glucose and lowers blood sugar, the lower your risk of developing cataracts. This is also one of the reasons that diabetics are more prone to cataracts.