Natural Ways To Help Prevent And Manage Cataracts

We explore why cataracts form, what your lens needs to stay clear, and how diet, supplements, and habits can reduce risk and improve outcomes before and after cataract surgery. We also cover dry eye prevention around cataract procedures and how to protect the retina from increased light exposure.

• reasons cataracts develop and timing across ages
• nutrients that support glutathione and lens proteins
• role of carotenoids in filtering blue and UV light
• evidence on fruit and vegetable intake and risk
• lifestyle changes, including exercise and smoking cessation
• preparing for surgery and preventing dry eye
• protecting the macula with sunglasses and nutrition
• how to get consultations and personalized guidance

Visit us at naturaleyecare.com where we can do a free basic consultation with you on the phone. If you need an individual consultation for cataracts, you can contact Dr. Grossman through his website.

If you have any questions, call us at 845 475 4158

And if you don't already subscribe to this podcast, please subscribe and review us.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

This is the Natural Eye Care Podcast, hosted by leading holistic optometrist, Dr. Mark R. Grosman. Senior citizens are at the highest risk of developing macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, and more. The Natural Eye Care Podcast provides complementary and natural approaches to vision problems, eye health, and overall health. Find out how lifestyle, diet, and nutrition can help maintain healthy vision and even improve eyesight. Dr. Grossman has degrees in optometry, biology, physical education, and learning disabilities. He is a New York State licensed acupuncturist. With 40 years of experience, he has co-authored the book, Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision and Healing.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Dr.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Grossman.

Why Cataracts Happen

Nutrients That Protect The Lens

Diet Patterns And Risk

Lifestyle Habits That Help

Surgery, Dry Eye, And Retina Care

Sunglasses And Protective Carotenoids

SPEAKER_01 0:53

Hi, I'm Dr. Mark Grossman, integrative medical optometrist, acupuncturist, in practice for over 45 years, and author of five books on natural eye care. And today's podcast is something that every week at least a half a dozen people call me about. Cataracts. That's right, almost inevitable as we get older. Does it happen at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90? The why? Why do we get cataracts? Why do we get one in one eye before the other eye? As optometrist and ophthalmologists, we're just looking at the lens separate. That if the person has a cataract, we're going to take it out and put in an intraocular lens. That works beautifully. It's a great thing, and I refer for it all the time. But what does it mean? And if we do not want to get cataract operations right now, what can we do for prevention and for integrative medicine? So let's look at the nutrients for the lens. Although the following nutrients are linked to reduced lens problems, research has additionally noted that the combination of these nutrients are even more effective. For example, the combination of vitamin A, C as antioxidants with combination of B1, B2, B3, and vitamin E and carotene in the diet significantly lessen the risk of all types of cataracts. There's even a homeopathic formulation that's been in the PDR of ophthalmology for over 40 years called scenaria. C-I-N-E-R A-R-I-A-R. This homeopathic formulation for lens support stimulates lymph flow in and around the eyes to remove toxins and maintain clarity. Glutathione, so important because many, many people who have cataracts are low in glutathione, a master antioxidant. And what supports glutathione? Vitamin C and vitamin E, selenium, alpha lopoic acid, and N acetylcysteine. N acidylcarnosine acts as an antioxidant to support visual clarity through its free radical capacity in maintaining lens crystallines. The ability of this natural protein, L-carnosine, to pass through the liquid and fatty portions of the eyes helps prevent damage to DNA by UV radiation. It contains a sulfur, which supports certain bonds in the lens crystalline structure, and may be helpful to repair lens transparency. We use a form of N-acidyl carnosine, it's called octlumed, so it's available as an eye drop. Vitamin B2 behaves like an antioxidant, and its deficiencies contribute to cataract development. B3 in the diet is related to metabolism. It's also good for lowering cholesterol. Vitamin B6 helps synthesize amino acids. And vitamin B6 is associated with lower risk of lens opacity. Vitamin B12 needed for correct functioning of the brain and nerve cells and is associated with lower risk of lens opacity. Lutein, so important for macular degeneration, protects the eye from free radical damage and it has the ability to block blue and UV sunlight. Astexanthin also protects against free radical damage. Zexanthin, also a powerful antioxidant. Zinc also has antioxidant characteristics. So all these nutrients, they're not only just good for your eye and cataracts, they're good for your whole body. What is a complementary treatment? Avoid nutritional deficiencies. Diet is important. A 2011 study compared diets of nearly 28,000 people and found that those who eat the most meat had the highest incidence of cataracts. This does not mean to stop eating meat, but also demonstrated that a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, add that to your meals, is very, very important to reduce risk. A 10-year assessment of diets of nearly 40,000 women found those who consume the most fruits and vegetables had a 10 to 15% lower risk of cataracts. So as Benjamin Franklin said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What are some lifestyle tips? Well, you've heard this all the time. Stop smoking. Smoking definitely increases your risk of cataracts. Make a habit of exercise. For example, walking or bicycling a half hour a day can help reduce cataract risk by 12%. Conventional cataract treatment is really helpful putting in those IOLs, but what are some of the symptoms that many people get afterwards? Dry eye. So make sure you get checked for dry eye before you get cataract surgery and put in a preventative program for the possibility of dry eye after cataract surgery. Also, protect your retina. That's right, your retina. Think about it. A cataract is like a sunglass inside your eye that is blocking the light. So all of a sudden you're getting lots and lots of more light to your eye. So you want to make sure that your retina, the macula, can handle all that light. So you want to get some good sunglasses, usually brown or amber, and take nutrients, supplements, or a diet high in lutein, zeaxanthin, astexanthin. I hope this information is helpful and visit us at naturaleyecare.com where we can do consultations with you through our website, or if you need an individual consultation to know what's the best way to go with your particular type of cataract, you can also contact me, Dr. Grossman, through our website, naturaleye care.com. Have a great day.

How To Get Support

SPEAKER_00 7:42

For more information, visit naturaleycare.com and drgrossman2020.com. Our email address is info at naturaleycare.com. If you have any questions, call us at 845 475 4158. And if you don't already subscribe to this podcast, please subscribe and review us.