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Drink lots of water eight to ten glasses a day to maintain the flow of nutrients to the lens and the release of wastes and toxins from tissues.

Eat foods high in beta-carotene, vitamins C and E and sulfur-bearing amino acids. These substances are called antioxidants, and most of the nutritional components of cataract prevention and reversal are related to boosting antioxidant defenses. Antioxidants are one of the most important ways to combat free radicals, which are a major cause of cataract formation. A good diet, supplemented with antioxidant vitamins and minerals, can help prevent oxidation.

Foods high in antioxidants include garlic, onions, beans, yellow and orange vegetables, spinach and other green, leafy vegetables, celery, seaweed, apples, carrots, tomatoes, turnips and oranges.

Some foods, particularly dairy products, wheat and soy foods, can exacerbate eye problems by causing sinus congestion which can impair lymph and blood drainage from the area around the eyes. When lymph and blood can't flow in and out of the eyes, nutrients don't reach the eyes, and toxins and metabolic wastes aren't eliminated. Try avoiding these foods for a month to see whether you are less congested. Then re-introduce them one at a time to help you identify your specific problem foods.

Vitamins and Minerals

Taking a good optimum potency multivitamin is an important foundation of any cataract prevention program. The following are some of the essential nutrients for treating cataracts. Other recommended nutrients can be found in the Cataract Prevention Program at the end of this chapter.

Vitamin C. The king of the antioxidants and the vitamin we emphasize most in our practice for cataract patients, it has long been known that vitamin C can both prevent and heal cataracts. In addition to its other benefits, vitamin C can reverse the negative effects of sugar on cataract formation, according to studies undertaken since 1935.

The normal, healthy lens contains a higher level of vitamin C than any other organ except the adrenal glands. However, when cataracts are forming, the vitamin C level is very low and sometimes nonexistent. Similarly, the vitamin C level

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in the aqueous humor which supplies nutrition to the lens is also low when cataracts are forming. This overall reduction of vitamin C is due both to the eye's impaired ability to secrete vitamin C into the aqueous humor as well as to the body's overall vitamin C deficiency when cataracts are forming. Vitamin C has another surprising effect on the eyes: in studies since 1935, vitamin C has been shown to prevent and even reverse the negative effects of sugar on the eyes. 5

Injection of vitamin C into the blood or aqueous humor resulted in improved vision in 70 percent of the study subjects.3 And study subjects who took vitamin C daily for at least five years reduced their risk for cataracts by 70 percent.6 Some patients in the studies showed measurable improvement within two weeks.

Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Vitamin A and its precursor, beta-carotene, are particularly important for eye health. People with low levels of beta-carotene stand seven times the risk of contracting cataracts as those with high levels. Beta-carotene, like vitamin C, also may act as a light filter for the eyes, protecting against photooxidation of the lens.

Although vitamin A can be toxic in excess, there is no risk of toxicity from beta-carotene.

Bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids, such as quercetin and rutin, are important antioxidants that are synergistic with vitamin C. They need each other's presence to work efficiently. Quercetin seems to be the most effective in the prevention of cataracts.

Vitamin B complex. The B vitamins work together synergistically, and excesses of one B vitamin can cause a deficiency of another, so we recommend that you take a B vitamin complex that contains a minimum daily dose of 100 to 150 mg of each B vitamin.

Calcium. Animal studies have shown that a diet deficient in calcium can bring on cataracts.7

Chromium. Chromium helps regulate blood sugar and improves blood circulation. Patients with cataracts have been found to have only about 40 percent of the chromium they need.

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Copper and zinc. People with cataracts are almost always deficient in copper and zinc, two minerals that work hand-in-hand in cataract prevention and treatment. Copper stimulates the production of superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme, but only when the body has enough zinc for the reaction. Zinc deficiency can actually cause cataracts in humans and animals. And zinc makes sure the body can assimilate vitamin A. It's also important for the health of the epithelium of the lens and for the metabolism of sugar within the lens tissue.

Vitamin E. Like low levels of beta-carotene, a low level of vitamin E also increases cataract risk and reduces photooxidation. 89 A daily dose of 800 I.U. has been shown to reduce cataract risk by up to 56 percent.

Manganese. Along with copper and zinc, manganese is also involved in the production of superoxide dismutase. Magnesium. Magnesium helps regulate sugar levels and proper nerve function, as well as vitamin B6 metabolism. Potassium. Potassium is important for circulation, fluid balance and detoxification.

Selenium. Selenium gives vitamin E a jumpstart and also helps protect the lens from mercury damage. Additional Supplements

Proteolytic enzymes (papain or bromelain). The lens of the eye is the most concentrated protein in the body, and insufficient intake or digestion of too much protein can cause cataracts. Most Americans, with the exception of vegetarians, eat two to three times more protein than they need. We suggest taking the enzyme bromelain or papain to assist in protein digestion. Papain works better for most people.

Sulfur. In its organic forms, sulfur is one of the most important elements for good vision. It is a critical part of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant on the

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front line of the detoxification process in the liver, particularly in the elimination of mercury, a common trigger of cataracts. Glutathione has been linked to lens health since the early 1900s; in one study, injections of glutathione improved lens clarity in 30 percent of the patients. Sulfur also is a component of many enzymes, including the enzyme that pumps excess fluid out of the lens to maintain its clarity.

Several forms of organic sulfur are beneficial for vision. One is methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), a crystalline powder that can be added to water or other drinks. Take 1/2 teaspoon per 100 pounds of body weight twice a day. Another form of organic sulfur is N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), which can dramatically boost the body's level of L- glutathione.

Taurine. Taurine has also been shown to be helpful in cataract prevention.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, senile cataracts are often seen as a result of a deficiency in the kidney and liver meridians. This causes a lack of energy and blood flowing to the eyes, which leads to poor nutrition of the eyes, thus causing an opaqueness of the lens. The spleen meridian also plays a role in the nourishment of the eyes, and if dysfunctional, it can also cause cataracts.

The herbs and acupressure points prescribed for cataracts are chosen for their ability to tone both the kidney and liver qi. By strengthening the energies of the kidney, liver and spleen, an overall improvement in the body's immune system and energy is promoted, thus allowing more available healing energy to come to the eyes.

Acupressure

Each of the 365 acupuncture points in the body has a unique energy or essence. See the Cataract Prevention Program, page 67 for the relevant points for preventing and healing cataracts.