What Can You Do to Prevent Cataracts?

Factors That May Develop Cataracts

As we age, people living in the Binghamton area and worldwide must contend with the increased risk of developing cataracts that can only be corrected with surgery.

A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s lens that causes diminished vision and even blindness. Cataracts can affect one or both eyes, and are present in roughly 90 percent of all people age 65 and up, according to the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan.

By age 85, the vast majority of those people have lost some degree of their ability to see because of cataracts.

Unfortunately, there are no scientifically-proven methods of preventing cataracts. But eye doctors and surgeons cannot ignore the correlation between the development of cataracts and the following health, lifestyle and environmental factors:

• Cigarette smoking
• Secondhand smoke
• UVB exposure
• Air pollution
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Poor eating habits

We know that these factors contribute to the negative free radicals in our bodies that spur the development of illness and disease. For that reason, boosting your antioxidant intake along with taking vitamins A, C, and E may improve your overall health and wellness in addition to naturally fighting cataracts.

When you have questions about cataract treatment or any other procedure that addresses common vision problems, please contact the Binghamton or New York City offices of cataract surgeon Dr. Daniel Sambursky: 877-333-0700.