Can Lead to Blindness, Here Are 10 Causes & Symptoms of Cataracts
Early detection of cataracts can help you slow down the progression of cataracts that could potentially cause blindness. To take action immediately, let's recognize the signs of cataracts, their causes, and how to prevent them here.
Causes of Cataracts
Cataracts are not only triggered by old age. There are various factors that can accelerate the onset of cataracts, including:
1. Smoking

This habit can increase the amount of free radicals in the body, which causes protein clumping in the eyes, eventually triggering cataracts.
2. Alcohol Consumption

Similar to smoking, excessive alcohol consumption can also promote the formation of free radicals that are not good for eye health.
3. Not Protecting the Eyes from UV Rays

UV rays can trigger oxidative stress that damages the eye lens. The more often the eyes are exposed to UV rays, the higher the risk of developing cataracts.
4. Watching TV or Playing on Computers and Phones for Too Long

Blue light from electronic devices, such as televisions, computers, and phones, can stimulate the formation of free radicals that will affect eye health.
5. Rubbing the Eyes Frequently

Although rubbing your eyes often makes you feel more comfortable, this habit can have a negative impact on your eyes by damaging the lens structure that is important for vision.
6. Depending on Mental Health Medications

The use of medications for mental health conditions, such as those in the phenothiazine group, can increase the risk of cataracts up to three times if used long-term, specifically between 2 and 5 years.[1]
7. Consuming Unhealthy Food

Ultra-processed foods or instant foods generally do not contain enough nutrients that act as antioxidants, even though antioxidants are very important for fighting free radicals.
8. Diabetes

People with diabetes are prone to blood vessel damage in the eyes due to high blood sugar levels, as well as fluid swelling between the eyeball and the corneal lens.
9. Excess Weight

People who are overweight tend to experience body inflammation that increases the risk of developing cataracts.
10. Using Steroid Eye Drops

Eye drops containing steroids can bind proteins in the eye, destabilize their structure, and trigger clumping that risks causing cataracts.
How to Tell if You Have Cataracts?
To recognize cataracts, here are the signs of cataracts in the eyes that you can look out for:
1. Blurred Vision

An early sign of cataracts is blurred vision. Cataracts prevent light from fully entering the eye, making it difficult for you to see clearly.
2. Colors Appear Faded

Over time, cataracts will turn yellowish or brownish, making colors appear more faded and less bright than before.
3. The Eyes Need Brighter Lighting

As cataracts progress, they will grow larger and less light will enter the eye. Therefore, you will need more light just to read.
4. Farsightedness

Cataracts forming in the center of the eye will make it difficult for sufferers to see distant objects.
5. Difficulty Seeing at Night

Since sufferers need more light to see, poorly lit nighttime conditions will make it challenging for them to carry out activities.
6. Eyes Turning Whitish-Gray

Another sign of cataracts in adults is a change in eye color to whitish-gray. This is caused by an abnormal accumulation of protein in your eye lens.
7. Eyes Easily Glare

What other eye complaints are there? With cataracts, light is not focused but scattered. This condition makes sufferers easily blinded by glare when light suddenly shines into the eyes.
8. Seeing Halos

This condition can also cause someone to see halos or circles around light sources. It is triggered by diffraction, where light entering the eye is scattered.
9. Frequently Changing Glasses

Cataracts will gradually reduce someone's vision. As a result, sufferers often have to change their glasses to adjust to their eyes' needs.
10. Double Vision

Changes inside the eye due to cataracts can cause sufferers to experience double vision of the same object.
How to Prevent Cataracts
To reduce the potential for cataracts, here are things you can do:
1. Start a Healthier Lifestyle

Stop all unhealthy habits that increase the potential for cataracts, such as smoking, drinking, and consuming instant foods. Use your time to exercise and change your menu to whole foods that are not highly processed, so their nutrients remain intact.
2. Use Photochromic Glasses

Always protect your eyes with glasses when doing outdoor activities. Use photochromic glasses to block UV exposure.
3. Maintain Eye Health

To maintain eye health, you can reduce the habit of rubbing your eyes, reduce time watching TV and playing on your phone, and also consume Sido Muncul Herbal Bilberry Carrot.
With the combination of carrots and bilberries, this supplement will optimally maintain your eye health. Not only that, its vitamin C content can also help overcome free radicals that cause cataracts.
Don't let cataracts haunt you! Recognizethe signs of cataracts early and regularly consume Sido Muncul Bilberry to always maintain your eye health!
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