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June 15, 2004 |
| Vision Health
Cataracts Cataracts, a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, affect one in every seven people in the U.S. In fact, by the age of 80, more than half of all Americans will develop a cataract. While age is one of the largest predictors of cataracts, studies have shown that postmenopausal women may have a higher risk of cataracts than menstruating women. Some researchers theorize that, like age-related macular degeneration, the reason for this is the diminished production of estrogen that occurs at midlife and beyond. Similarly, recent data also suggests a strong correlation between women with cataracts and cardiovascular, respiratory, and other non-cancer causes of death. In a study from the April 2002 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers looked at a pre-selected group of people aged 65 and older in London. They followed the group for four years and compared age- and sex-specific mortality rates in people with and without cataracts. They found that cataracts were significantly associated with higher mortality rates in non-diabetic women, but not men. I find this study very interesting, as it suggests that the free radical damage that initiates the development of cataracts may be simultaneously causing destructive changes in other organ systems. This is particularly true during postmenopause, when both cataract formation and conditions such as atherogenesis (deterioration of the arteries), both linked to free radical damage, begin to accelerate. Thus, cataracts may be a useful early warning sign of a process that is occurring throughout the body.
Read More on Vision: Getting Started Age-Related Macular Degeneration Nutritional Therapies Lutein and Zeaxanthin for Age-related Macular Degeneration Antioxidants for AMD and Cataracts Complementary Therapies Red Light Therapy for Macular Degeneration Ozone Therapy for Macular Degeneration
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