Vitamin C May Help Reduce the Risk of Cataract

Cataract causes the lens of the eye to turn opaque resulting in progressive blindness. Cataract is one of the diseases that develop as a person ages. It is the lifestyle factors like diet more than the genetics of a person that lead to the formation of cataract.  

According to the statistics, cataract affects about 29.2% of Americans. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness over the globe, despite the fact that cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures. In one of the ground breaking researches, scientists have discovered that vitamin C can help keep the cataract at bay through its preventive role.

The study was carried out by scientists from King's College London, in the UK and was authored by Dr. Christopher Hammond, professor of ophthalmology at King's College London. The basic aim of the study was to look into the roles of various sorts of nutrients in the prevention of cataract. The researchers also wanted to assess the impact of various lifestyle factors like diet on cataract in comparison with genetics.

Data was collected from 1,000 pairs of female twins in UK by a questionnaire that asked about the nutrient intake of the participants like vitamins A, B, C, D and E, copper, manganese, zinc and others. The progression of the disease among the study participants was monitored by digital imaging.

These imaging tools measured the opacity of the lens of the patients when they reached the average age of 60. The measurements were repeated on 324 pairs of the twins about 10 years later.

Diet vs. Genetics

The first measurement came up with quite astonishing figures stating the reduction in the risk of cataract formation of about 20% with ingestion of Vitamin C. The repeat measurements that were taken after the 10 years interval showed an even lower risk –about 33%-in women with high dietary intake of vitamin C.

The researchers attributed the ability of vitamin C to lower the risk of cataract formation to its anti-oxidant properties. The normal content of vitamin C in the fluid medium inside the eye is quite high and it prevents the denaturing of the proteins forming the lens by counteracting the oxidative stress, thereby preventing the clouding of the lens.

The Anti-Oxidant Role of Vitamin C in Cataract Prevention

It was postulated that high dietary intake of vitamin C fortifies the protection of the lens and further lowers the risk of cataract formation. The researchers only studied the effects of vitamin C that was taken in diet, not through the supplements.

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According to Dr. Christopher Hammond, total prevention of cataract is not possible and at one stage, every person ultimately develops some degree of cataract. This study has, however, helped unearth the fact that vitamin C can effectively slow down the process of cataract formation and progression thereby maintaining the vitality and function of the lens.

This study is an important step towards active disease prevention. By enhancing the dietary consumption of vitamin C, the onset and progression of cataract can be easily delayed.

New Drug Research Can Prevent Secondary Cataracts

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness around the world, especially in the aging population. According to the estimates, by the year 2030, the number of people undergoing cataract surgery will reach 32 million.

Cataract surgery is a commonly done surgical procedure for cataract in which the clouded lens is removed and an artificial lens is inserted in its place. However, some of the cells from the natural lens are always retained. The healing process can cause these cells to grow along the backside of the artificial lens leading to secondary cataract formation which needs follow-up surgery for removal. Secondary cataracts are a common complication of cataract surgery.

A recent study has shown that some of the new drugs which are being used for treating age-related macular degeneration can prove to be useful in the prevention of secondary cataracts and can eliminate the need for follow-up surgery.

This study was carried out at the University of East Anglia and was led by Dr. Michael Wormstone, from UEA's School of Biological Sciences. The study was partly funded by eye research charity Fight for Sight.

Cataract Surgery Revolutionized

According to Dr. Michael Wormstone, secondary cataract can be easily managed with surgery. However, taking into account the fact that the average life span has increased, this preventable condition can prove to be a burden in terms of poor life quality for the patients along with the financial strain. It will also consume valuable resources that can be utilized to treat patients of primary cataracts.

The conventional surgery for cataract consists of removal of the core of the natural lens leaving its outer covering or the “capsular bag” intact in which an artificial lens is placed. The capsular bag of the natural lens then 'shrink-wraps' around the newly placed lens and holds it in place.

The artificial lens being made now is modified in such a way that when they are placed inside the capsular bag, the bag, instead of ‘shrink wrapping”, stays open. The basic idea behind this approach is that if the bag stays open, it will allow the fluid within the eye to wash away the left over lens cells, dramatically reducing the chances of secondary cataract formation.

Secondary Cataract Prevention

A dual approach was adopted by studying the human tissue and the cells. The researchers first explored the idea that diluting the growth factors that cause the re-growth of lens cells can prevent secondary cataract.

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 It was discovered that decrease in the number of the growth factors responsible for re-growth of lens cells, particularly the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hinders the cellular re-growth. Anti-VEGF drugs are now believed to be the logical new line of anti-cataract drugs. These drugs can help augment the effects of the modified lens and the open bag surgery to prevent secondary cataract.

This study is expected to prove quite fruitful in terms of reduction in the rate of secondary cataract surgery. The follow-up study is all set to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Seattle.