The body is a remarkable machine that constantly regenerates itself. The cells in the body have a limited life span and continue to regenerate. Each cell lives a maximum of one year; most of them less. In fact, 98% of all cells the body will die and regenerate in one to nine months at least once each year.
The parts of the body that never regenerate are the lenses of the eyes. The cells of the eyes’ lenses do not undergo the normal processes of cell death and the creation of new cells. People have the same lenses all through their lives unless they undergo surgery and have them removed and replaced by artificial lenses.
How Cataracts Develop
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and the primary reason why many people undergo eye surgery. About 17 million people all over the world are affected by cataracts.
Aging is not good for the eyes. An estimated 20% of people over 60 develop cataracts in one or both eyes; 80% of people over 75 have cataracts.
Heredity, poor nutrition, smoking, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes and long-term use of corticosteroids can cause cataracts. Another common cause is believed to be the cumulative radiation our eyes are subjected to each time we go outdoors on a sunny day without wearing sunglasses.
The lenses of the eyes are made up of lens proteins called crystallins. These are beautifully arranged in the lenses but over time, the crystallins randomly clump together as a result of chemical reactions believed to be caused primarily by oxidative free radicals. These damage the vital biomolecules including lipids and proteins. The physical manifestation of this molecular breakdown is a cloudy haze over the eye’s lens called a "nuclear cataract." Nuclear cataract is the most common of three kinds of cataracts. Cortical cataract, which begins in the cortex or periphery of the lens and extends inwards is less common but typically found in diabetics. The least common kind of cataract is the posterior subcapsular cataract, which occur on the back side of the lens.
In the early stages, cataracts usually go unnoticed because they cause no pain. Later on, as it grows in size and becomes more dense, it reduces the amount of light that goes through the lens and scatters the light that does go through.
A sharp image of what is seen is formed when all the light that passes through the lens is precisely focused to a point in the retina. A cataract prevents this from happening. Instead, the light is spread out across the retina and forms a fuzzy image. Colors are also affected- they become dull or distorted. A halo of light is also “seen” around bright objects.
Prevention and Treatment of Cataracts
Surgery to remove cataracts and replace them with artificial ones are now commonly performed the world over. But prevention is always superior to surgery.
One of the key elements for the prevention of most age-related diseases is good nutrition. In an age where many nutrients are destroyed by chemicals, length of food transport time and processing, it has become increasingly important for us to add nutritional supplements to our daily regimen.
There are many nutritional supplements that can keep our eyes healthy and prevent eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. The list is long and includes: the tripeptide gluthatione, vitamins A,C and E, some B vitamins, bioflavinoids especially quercetin and hesperidin, carotenoids such as lutein and zeaxanthin, amino acids taurine, n-acetylcysteine and acetyl L-carnitine, melatonin, vinpocetine - an alkaloid, and the herbs billberry, gingko and garlic, the minerals zinc and selenium, and alpha lipoic acid.
Non-surgical Treatment of Cataracts Using N-acetylcarnosine Eye Drops
There is an exciting development in the prevention and treatment of cataracts: an eyedrop containing 1% N-acetylcarnosine (NAC). NAC occurs naturally throughout the body. NAC and its parent compound, carnosine , are abundantly found in the heart and skeletal muscles.
Carnosine was discovered in Russia in 1900 and there has been research work done on NAC which show that it not only prevents cataracts but it also partially reverses the development of cataracts and thus improves vision.
Studies conducted by Russian scientists have shown that NAC is able to prevent and reverse the development of cataracts because of its antioxidant effect and its ability to inhibit a chemical process called glycation. Glycation produces AGEs or advanced glycation end products. These are the result of the common reaction between glucose and proteins that occur all over our body including the eyes’ lenses. When the sugar-protein complexes become chemically cross-linked, they degrade cellular functions. AGEs are considered to be one of the primary factors in the aging process.
Two randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials conducted by Russian scientists have shown that eyes treated with eye drops containing 1% aqueous solution of NAC substantially improved in six months. The transmissivity of the lenses increased by 12-50% in 41.5% of the eyes treated with the NAC eyedrops. Visual acuity improved by 7-100% in 90% of the eyes; and in 88.9% of the eyes treated, glare sensitivity improved by 27-100%. None of the eyes treated with the NAC eye drops showed worsening of the existing conditions and there were no adverse side effects from the NAC eyedrops.
In contrast, the control group that received no NAC eye drop treatments exhibited a worsening of existing conditions. After 24 months, visual acuity dropped by 17-80% in 89% in the control group.
Related links:
N-Acetyl Carnosine - Is it the Cure for Cataracts? by Robert Mason, Ph.D. www.carnosineeyedrops.com/carnosine_eyedrops.htm
N-Acetyl-Carnosine Eye Drops www.custommedicine.com.au/blog/2006/08/29/natural-cataract-treatment/
