Cataract is a disease that mainly occurs in people over the age of 60, although it can be seen at any age. More than half of people over the age of 70 are affected by this disease. The symptoms of this disease are decreased vision, impaired driving vision, reading, light scattering, and fading or disappearance of colors.
The main causes of cataracts
The most important cause of cataracts is the age of individuals. Other causes include smoking and drug use, prolonged exposure to sunlight, diabetes and high blood pressure, eye injury, malnutrition, eye inflammation, genetics, and the use of drugs such as corticosteroids for more than two weeks.
- Age
- Family History
- UV Radiation
- Smoking
- Excessive Alcohol Consumption
An ophthalmologist performs a cataract diagnosis. When cataract-induced vision loss impairs a person’s function or when the eye is at risk of developing black water due to cataracts, surgery should be performed on the patient. According to world standards, this operation is currently performed in Iran and is successful in more than 98% of cases.
Some tips for reducing your risk of cataracts:
People over the age of 40 should visit an ophthalmologist annually for eye examination and pressure measurement. Also, using sunglasses, avoiding smoking and drugs, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, having a proper diet containing fruits and vegetables, and protecting the eyes against injury can delay the onset of cataracts. However, the use of supplements in preventing cataracts has not been proven.
- Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Wear sunglasses that block UV rays.
- Manage chronic health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Get regular eye exams.
Reference:
Cataracts | National Eye Institute (nih.gov)
