Eye Health Conditions (Glaucoma, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration)

Dr. Johnson I have been told that a family member has cataracts does this mean that I will get them?

No, not necessarily, cataracts are not something you can catch from someone. The lens behind the pupil is where the cataract develops which can be caused by smoking, diabetes or from exposure to different levels of UV on sunny and cloudy days over a period of years. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world today.

Dr. Johnson will you explain how people get cataracts so I know what to avoid or do?

Job occupations that expose you to UV or radiation can be causative factors for cataracts over your lifetime. A cataract can also form when there has been trauma to the eye like a hit to the face or car accident. Certain medications can cause cataracts such as steroids. It is easier for them to develop if you have been exposed to the sun a lot. My suggestion would be to wear sunglasses year round. Polarized sunglasses are the most advanced in terms of protection to the eyes. They also provide the best clarity year round even on cloudy days. Taking a good vitamin supplement including 200-400mg of Vitamin C may also retard the development of cataracts.

Dr. Johnson I hear so much about people losing their vision to glaucoma- What is it?

You’re right in the U.S., 1 person every 11 minutes loses their vision to glaucoma. Glaucoma develops when the blood circulation in the body is reduced to the eye and this causes the optic nerve to slowly die. This is not something you can detect because it does not affect the way you see with or without glasses until you are almost blind. I treat a lot of glaucoma successfully because I see my patients yearly and we catch it early enough to prevent them from losing their vision. If caught soon enough prescription eye drops I utilize will help prevent loss of vision from glaucoma in more advanced cases a laser may be required.

Dr. Johnson if I have pain in my eyes does this mean that I may have glaucoma?

No, less than 5% of the population has painful glaucoma which is called closed angle glaucoma. When this happens it causes a lot of pain in the eye because the fluid pressure in the eye cannot drain like it normally does. When this occurs we have to treat you immediately with medications and sometimes laser surgery to prevent immediate vision loss and blindness.

Dr. Johnson I keep hearing a lot about macular degeneration and that it causes blindness. Is it only hereditary?

Absolutely not. Smoking, poor diet and age related changes in the way our bodies metabolize nutrients from our diet can be the culprit. UV absorption in younger or later years without UV protection in our sunglasses and glasses can also be a causative factor. Health conditions like diabetes can cause a wet form or bleeding form of macular degeneration. If caught soon enough this can be laser treated. Most of the macular degeneration cases are called the “dry type.” We will see a 5 fold increase in macular degeneration by 2015 to 2020 given the aging of the baby boomer demographics so we must keep our diet in check, take a good multivitamin and make sure we get 7-10mg of the caretenoids like Lutein in our diets to significantly reduce the risk by 40% of ever developing this sight threatening problem. Nutrition and vitamin supplements are something we can do as preventive measures against this sight threatening disease. Smokers take caution because some studies show that if the Vitamin A in your supplements is beta carotene there are some links to lung cancer.

Dr. Johnson is it true that the main causes of vision loss in the U.S. are from Cataracts and Macular Degeneration?

Yes cataracts can be removed surgically and Macular Degeneration can cause an irreversible loss of vision but we do have some options. Eye health nutrition reports have shown success with certain antioxidants found in multi vitamins and carotenoid groups like Lutein.