Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology finds that those who take medications that make them more sensitive to the sun have an increased risk of developing cataracts.

And, in case you are thinking that you only have to worry about the sun if you are soaking up the rays on the equator, this study involved residents of Wisconsin who were exposed to their own local sunshine.

For a complete list of drugs that can cause light sensitivity, please visit our website.

Source: http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/128/8/959

We heard a lot about antioxidants, but what are they and why do we need them and where can we get them?

Free radicals are unstable atoms that attack other cells in their attempt to gain a missing electron that will make them more stable.  This attack harms the cells’ delicate membranes, thereby making them a target for disease. This process is called oxidation and it is responsible for aspects of the aging process including wrinkles, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to the unstable cells. After being neutralized, those free radicals will no longer attempt to damage cells, and therefore become less harmful to the body.

Antioxidants can be found in a host of foods.

Four particularly important antioxidants:

Astaxanthin, Glutathione, CoQ10 and Super oxide dismutase.

Learn all about antioxidants at our website.

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An animal study has revealed the antioxidant properties of hawthorn tree leaves and how they may be used to fight cataracts.

Hawthorn leaf extract was dropped into the eyes of rats with selenite-induced oxidative stress.  Researchers were able to measure significant increases in antioxidant levels in the eyes after the administration of the  drops.  According to study authors, “These results may be applied in the future for the prevention and treatment of cataracts.”

One of the leading causes of cataracts is the presence of free radicals.  The natural byproducts of metabolism,  these highly reactive chemicals cause oxidation, which in turn leads to the development of the opaque spot in the eye of a cataract.

Source: Biological Trace Element Research

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In an attempt to determine how to increase the public’s lutein intake, Spanish scientists have been studying how lutein fortified bread and muffins may effectively deliver the nutrient to consumers.  Findings published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that using high-lutein wheat and corn flower in bread products resulted in “reasonable amounts” of  this powerful  antioxidant still available in the cookies, muffins, and breads.

Lutein is a carotenoid used in the retina and lens of the eyes. Studies have shown that low lutein levels can be a factor in the development of macular degeneration. Also, those with high concentrations of lutein in their systems are 50% less likely to develop cataracts.

Research on lutein supplementation in food is still ongoing and study authors say that “more research is being carried out to evaluate antioxidant properties of these wholegrain high-lutein food products.”

Source: http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Muffins-and-bread-show-lutein-carrier-potential-for-eye-health

Researchers have discovered a link between the popular anti-depression herb St. John’s wort and the development of cataracts.

Published in Current Eye Research, the study describes the results of questionnaires sent to over 31,000 people over age 40 about cataracts and their use of herbal remedies and treatments over the prior year. Those who reported that they had cataracts were 59% more likely to also report they had used St. John’s Wort.  Researchers do make clear that this questionnaire format has limits and further study is necessary to determine whether the correlation is dose dependent and learn more about the timing of taking the supplement and developing the cataract.

In earlier research, Hypericin, an active ingredient in St. John’s wort, was linked with crystallization of the eye’s lenses. But, to date, the association had not been evaluated in humans.

St. John’s wort is a European weed whose extracts have been used for the treatment of mental disorders, particularly depression. It is usually taken as an herbal tea or tablet.

Source: http://news.injuryboard.com/study-links-st-johns-wort-to-cataracts.aspx?googleid=274170

For more research on cataracts causes, treatments, and cures, please visit our website.

Studies have shown beneficial effects of lipoic acid treatment on cataracts in rats. It may be of therapeutic use in preventing human cataracts and their associated complications. Lipoic acid has also been used to treat glaucoma.

Lipoic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid, is a sulfur-containing fatty acid. It is found inside every cell of the body, where it helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning. Lipoic acid is a key part of the metabolic machinery that turns glucose (blood sugar) into energy for the body’s needs.

Lipoic acid is an antioxidant, which means that it neutralizes naturally occurring but harmful chemicals known as free radicals. Unlike other antioxidants, which work only in water or fatty tissues, lipoic acid is unusual in that it functions in both water and fat. By comparison, vitamin E works only in fat and vitamin C works only in water. This gives lipoic acid an unusually broad spectrum of antioxidant action.

Source: HealthLibrary

For more research on cataracts, please visit our Research Pages.

The most common causes of pediatric cataracts include: intrauterine infections, metabolic disorders, and genetically transmitted syndromes. Infectious diseases such as rubella, measles, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, poliomyelitis, influenza, Epstein-Barr virus, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis can also be culprits.  Pediatric cataracts affects children worldwide, but it is 10 times more common in developing countries than in developed nations.

The American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus indicates that small cataracts that do not affect vision do not need to be removed, though those that cause vision loss should be removed as early in life as possible.  Early treatment is vital because the part of the brain that processes visual stimuli will not develop properly if a cataract causes the images to blur.  

For more information on ways to naturally treat and prevent cataracts, please visit our website.

Sources: http://www.pediatriccataract.org/about.html and http://www.aapos.org/faq_list/cataract

In the July 28, 2009 issue of the journal Biochemistry, Italian researchers reported that the dipeptide carnosine can potentially treat and prevent cataracts.  Enrico Rizzarelli of the University of Catania and his colleagues tested the effects of D- and L-carnosine on bovine cultured alpha-crystallin, the major structural protein in the lens of the eye. This discovery further supports those of other researchers over the past decade, including that of Chinese researchers who, in 1999, discovered that carnosine has pronounced effect on primary senile cataracts (an effective rate of 100%) as well as mature senile cataracts (the effect rate was 80%).

For more on cataracts research and potential treatment and cures, please click here.

New study found that medications that increase sensitivity to the sun,  including antidepressants, diuretics, antibiotics and the pain reliever naproxen sodium (commonly sold over-the-counter as Aleve) increase the risk of age-related cataract.

The results of this study will be in the publication in the August print issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Editor’s Notes: The lens cells are similar to skin cells which may be why additional light sensitivity can contribute to or cause cataracts.

For more information on nutrition, diet and cataracts, Click Here

A recent study n the June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology shows that eating right can reduce the chance of developing cataracts in women aged 50 to 79.

Study authors state: “Diet was the strongest risk factor related to reduced risk of nuclear cataract in this sample of postmenopausal women… Smoking and obesity were also contributors. Lifestyle improvements that include healthy diets, smoking cessation, and avoiding obesity may substantively lower the need for and economic burden of cataract surgery in aging American women.”

Learn more about Dr. Grossman’s Vision Wellness Program! Click here.

Source information: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/723624