Can Vitamins & Antioxidants Reduce Cataract Risk

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Can Vitamins & Antioxidants Reduce Cataract Risk

Patients always ask if there is any way to help reduce their risk of eye diseases and problems such as cataracts. It may be possible that there is an association between your risk of cataracts and your intake of certain vitamins and antioxidants according to researchers reporting their results in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Until now, studies have been inconsistent regarding the association between blood antioxidants or vitamins and risk of age-related cataract. By performing a meta analysis of 13 different studies researchers found the  lower the  level of vitamin E, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, the  greater the  risk of age-related cataract in Asian populations but not in Western populations, whereas β-Carotene, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin  had no significant association with risk of cataract. While these results look somewhat interesting, the question remains whether increasing intake through dietary supplements actually have any role in decreasing the risk of cataract formation.

If you or someone you know is concerned about glaucoma risk or has any family history of glaucoma they are encouraged to schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts areas.