Cataracts are one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. However, the clouding process of the lens can be counteracted with a diet rich in vitamin C. This is what current study results from London suggest and give those affected by the eye disease hope.
Cataract eye disease
Cataracts are one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. With this eye disease, the lens of the eye, which is actually clear, becomes cloudy, which means that vision deteriorates. Blurred contours and contrasts, increased glare from light, or double vision can be possible symptoms of cataracts.
There is no medication therapy. So far, only an operation in which an artificial lens is used can help cataract patients. But now the latest study results are giving hope to those affected: According to this, a diet rich in vitamin C can counteract the persistent clouding of the lens of the eye.
Diet affects cataracts
Researchers from King’s College in London investigated the connection between a vitamin C-rich diet and the risk of progressive clouding of the eye lens in cataracts. For this purpose, the scientists evaluated data from a period of around ten years, which was recorded on the basis of 324 pairs of female twins.
The subjects noted their personal eating habits, including the intake of dietary supplements, in a questionnaire and also regularly took part in eye tests. The results sound promising: The risk of progressive clouding of the lens is therefore around 33 percent lower if attention is paid to a lot of vitamin C in the choice of food.
In addition, only about a third of cataract severity and progression is due to genetic factors. At around 60 percent, environmental conditions, age, and lifestyle are significantly more important, according to the medical journal “Ophthalmology”.
Scientists assume that vitamin C, which is mainly found in berries, citrus fruits, broccoli, or peppers, accumulates in the eye fluid and can thus reduce oxidative stress. According to the researchers, aggressive oxygen radicals that could otherwise lead to clouding of the eye lens would be intercepted.
It is not yet clear whether the study can also be applied to men, people from other cultures, or younger people. All information about the study and the results in detail can be found here.
