{"id":17800,"date":"2021-10-05T07:06:57","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T07:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=17800"},"modified":"2021-10-05T07:06:57","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T07:06:57","slug":"can-leafy-green-vegetables-prevent-cataracts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/can-leafy-green-vegetables-prevent-cataracts\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Leafy Green Vegetables Prevent Cataracts?"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), cataract formation is a leading cause of vision loss.<\/b><\/h2>\n

What are cataracts?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Cataracts<\/a> are the leading cause of blurry vision. A cataract develops when the protein in the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing the vision to become translucent or opaque rather than clear.<\/p>\n

Age, family history, and ethnicity are all factors that you can’t control that may raise your chances of developing cataracts.<\/p>\n

However, risk factors we can control such as not smoking, controlling diseases like diabetes<\/a>, using UV-protective eyewear<\/a> and wide-brimmed hats to reduce exposure to sunlight, can help lower your chance of cataracts and minimize their progression.<\/p>\n

Another way to lower your chance of developing cataracts is by eating a well balanced diet and by adding antioxidants<\/a> \u2013 specifically vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin.<\/b><\/p>\n

These nutrient powerhouses, which can be found in green leafy vegetables and nuts, help to protect your lens from damage.<\/p>\n

Leafy green vegetables<\/b><\/h2>\n

A study published in the ScienceDaily (2004)<\/i> conducted at Ohio State University was the first to show that antioxidants present in dark leafy green vegetables can help prevent cataracts.<\/p>\n

The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, present in vegetables like kale, spinach, and collard greens, help protect human lens cells against UV light, which is a leading cause of cataract formation, according to the results of\u00a0 laboratory research on human lens cells.<\/p>\n

The effects of these antioxidants were compared to vitamin E, an antioxidant that is also known to decrease the risk of developing eye disorders.<\/p>\n

Lutein and zeaxanthin were found to be roughly 10 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells from UV damage.<\/b><\/p>\n

But this doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t add other foods with vitamin E, as they can still help in the prevention of cataracts.<\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> Can I Prevent Cataracts Naturally?<\/a><\/p>\n

Contact an eye doctor near you<\/a> to learn more about what foods and supplements you should add to your diet.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\t

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