Everyone is aware of cataracts and their adverse impacts on your eyes. Yet, we fail to consider it a major medical condition. According to the best eye specialist in Karachi, it is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people who are above 40.
But you do not have to fear this disease. Cataracts are equal parts preventable and curable. Just make sure to check with your ophthalmologist regarding your eye health. Early diagnosis leads to on-time prevention. Thus, make sure you take the following steps to take care of your eyes.
How Can You Prevent Cataracts?
People often believe that cataracts are untreatable and if they have happened there is no other way. Fortunately, this is not the usual case. Despite being the leading cause of vision loss in people, listed below are some ways to prevent them.
- The Role of Proper Diet
Eye diseases can be due to numerous reasons. These reasons fluctuate from family history to age. Yes, we are aware that you cannot control them all. But there is one factor that you can control and that is your diet. What you eat and what you avoid is completely in your own hands.
Thus, if you want eyes that stay with you for a lifetime, make sure to keep an eye on your dietary habits.
It is important for you to consume food that is rich in antioxidants. Eat leafy green vegetables as they provide your body with vitamin A. Moreover, make sure to eat citrus fruits. Citrus fruits provide the body with Vitamin C and E.
Some of the common vitamin C rich foods are
- Grapefruits
- Limes
- Tomatoes
- Red and green peppers
- Kiwi
- Broccoli
- Potatoes
To make sure that you are consuming the right amount of vitamin E in your body, look out for vegetable oils. Some of the popular vitamin E rich foods are
- Sunflower oil
- Safflower
- Wheat germ
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Quit Smoking
Not a single day passes without us learning about the disastrous impact of smoking. You might have heard that smoking damages your respiratory tract and your lungs. But it also gives you hypertension and has a deleterious impact on your eye.
Smoking is one risk factor that you can control if you want to minimize the chances of cataracts. Tobacco smoke tends to create free radicals in your eyes. These free radicals damage the eyes the first chance that they get. You know who fights those… antioxidants!!!!!
Antioxidants tend to fight off these radicals. But the cancerous agents in cigarette smoke delete these antioxidants.
Therefore, you can improve your vision tenfold, simply by kicking off this habit.
- Protect your eyes from UV
Other than just being a fashion statement, sunglasses are so much more!!!!
They provide the first level of protection to your eyes. UV rays are quite damaging for your eyes. These light rays can make irreversible changes to your eyes. Moreover, they can also damage the protein layer of your eyes.
But make sure that you are shopping for the right type of shades. Another tip, be sure to shop for those glasses which have a little tint of grey in them. They will help you while you are driving in broad daylight.
- Regulate your Blood Sugar Level
Diabetes has a direct impact on your eyes and vision. People who have diabetes are more vulnerable in developing cataracts. That is why if you want to keep your vision intact for a long time, make sure to keep your blood sugar level in check.
High blood sugar levels can swell your eye lens. It also leads to the production of sorbitol. Sorbitol collection in the eyes can be a reason for the cataract development in your eyes.
- Visit your Eye Care Specialist
Last but not the least, remember to make an appointment with your ophthalmologist. They can examine your eye properly and will educate you about the health care of your eyes. Early examination is a good thing as it provides you with basic knowledge about your eye care.
The duration of your visit depends on your age. Whatever your age is, if the risk factor is high, the doctor may want to see you more often.
The Bottom Line!
Early detection is one of the best strategies to prevent any disease. Cataracts are equal parts preventable and curable. It entirely depends on your diet, lifestyle, and other associated habits. Make sure to adapt the aforementioned ways to tackle the issues of cataracts.
Still unsure about your eyes, visit your doctor right away!
