By Adrienne Smith
What exactly is a cataract?
A cataract is when the eye's lens start becoming cloudy which prevents the eye from focusing on lights, colors, and shapes. This causes images to appear fuzzy or blurred. Cataracts usually happen due to the normal part of the aging process, but cataracts have been known to develop early as a result of disease, trauma to the eye, medications, or exposure to UV light.
Most people aren't aware that there are alternative treatments. We usually are told that the best treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove and replace the cloudy lens. I wish I had been aware of these alternatives before my mother had her cataract surgery.
So what does cataract surgery entail?
A small incision is made in the eye. The cloudy lens is then broken up and removed. A flexible lens replacement is then inserted through the incision and unfolded into place. This lens replacement is referred to as an intraocular lens, or lens implant. Once in place, the lens implant naturally adheres to the eye. In the majority of cases, the eye incision heals on its own. This procedure is usually done as an outpatient and they are free to leave the same day. Recovery entails just resting a little at home.
This process is rather expensive and there is a slight possibility that the cataract will return. It may appear in another area of the same eye or in the other eye.
So do cataracts just come with aging or is there a specific cause?
Although they normally appear with age, there are two main causes of cataracts; stress and health. The majority of people lead pretty stressful lives. Like in my mother's case, my father had cancer for 42 years and he had six surgeries. Being stressed over his health was unavoidable. In my mother's case, it was extremely hard to take the time to relax and not worry about things. The other cause is a poor diet. Eating more foods that are high in cholesterol and carbohydrates and never getting enough vitamins and fruits or vegetables.
If you can learn how to start relaxing more often and eating a more healthy diet, this definitely will help reduce the risk of cataracts. Your diet should consist of more fruits and vegetables and foods that are high in Vitamins A-E. Exercise is very important as well and can help reduce stress and mental strain. It's best to try and find the time to exercise at least five days a week, but if you can do nothing else, take a brisk walk around the block.
Cutting back on your alcohol consumption is another way to improve your health along with cutting out smoking. Try to find some time to just lie outside in the sun for at least 10 to 15 minutes and just close your eyes and relax. Learn to say "no" more often and stop overworking yourself. Don't feel like you have to complete everything on your "to do" list every single day.
Although it's very difficult to rid all stress from your life, try to just relax more often and eat a healthy diet. Talking a walk around the block can be invigorating as well as cutting back in other areas. These small adjustments to your lifestyle can be an overall major improvement on your eyesight in the future.
Adrienne Smith is a work at home business owner and she enjoys helping others find the same success.
Having had poor eyesight herself from many hours of computer work, she was thrilled to learn of these amazing methods that have improved her eyesight. If you would like to learn more about the methods mentioned above, please be sure to visit Vision Without Glasses today.
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