Head Off Surgery with Natural Remedies for Cataracts.

The 7-minute surgery for cataracts is safe, painless, and effective. The clouded lens of the eye is removed, an artificial lens is inserted, and, in a few days, you can see clearly again. There's only one problem with the operation: You probably don't need it. "I estimate that 9 out of 10 patients in the early stages of cataracts could reverse their cataracts with natural remedies," says John O. Huff, M.D., an ophthalmologist and codirector of the Prather-Huff Wellness Center in Sugarland, Texas.

The best time to use natural remedies to _top or reverse cataracts is when they're first diagnosed, says Edward 1. Paul Jr., O.D., Ph.D., an optometrist, holistic nutritionist, and director of Atlantic Eye Associates in Hampstead, North Carolina. Once cataracts are too far advanced for nutritional intervention, surgery is a must.

Even then, alternative practitioners believe that the use of nutrients has its place. "Even if the cataract is removed by surgery, the nutritional deficiencies that caused it are still present," says Marc Grossman, 0.0., an optometrist, licensed acupuncturist, and codirector of the Integral Health Center in Rye and New Paltz, New York. "Unless you correct those deficiencies, I think it's just a matter of time before they'll surface in the form of a cataract in your other eye or as some other disease."
Nutritional remedies work because most cataracts are caused by oxidation. The protein in the lens of the eye is oxidized by destructive molecules called free radicals in much the same way that the transparent protein (albumin) of an egg white becomes opaque when it's fried.
But alternative practitioners say you can stop or even reverse that oxidation with the following antioxidant nutrients.

MULTMTAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENT: A Strong Foundation
"I feel that a good, high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement is an important foundation of any cataract treatment program," Dr. Grossman says. A high-potency supplement should supply a daily dose of at least 50 milligrams of most of the B vitamins, 15 milligrams of beta-carotene, 30 milligrams of zinc, and 200 micrograms of selenium.

VITAMIN C: A Must for a Healthy Lens
"Vitamin C is the king of antioxidants and can both prevent and heal cataracts," Dr. Grossman says. He points out that the lens of the eye contains more vitamin C than any other part of the body except the adrenal glands and that vitamin C levels in the lens may be "very low and sometimes nonexistent" if a cataract is growing. He advises his cataract patients to take 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C a day.

GLUTATHIONE AND NAC: A Powerful Antioxidant and Its Helper

"The majority of the cataracts that I see are low in the antioxidant glutathione," Dr. Grossman says. But the body needs the nutrients n-acetylcysteine (NAC) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) to metabolize glutathione. He recommends 50 milligrams a day of glutathione, 500 milligrams a day of NAC, and 100 milligrams a day of ALA. ANTIOXIDANTS: What Eye Doctors Recommend Here are some other antioxidants that are necessary to stop or reverse
a cataract.

Bioflavonoids: These antioxidants help vitamin C work.

Dr. Grossman recommends 500 milligrams a day. . Beta-carotene: A low intake of this nutrient may increase the risk of developing a cataract. Dr. Paul recommends 12 milligrams daily. . Vitamin E: Low levels can increase cataract risk. Dr. Paul advises his patients to take 400 international units a day. . Selenium: This element gives vitamin E a jump-start, says Dr. Grossman. He recommends 200 micrograms twice a day. . Zinc: "People with cataracts are almost always deficient in zinc, which works in the treatment of cataracts," says Dr. Grossman. He recommends 30 milligrams of zinc daily along with 2 milligrams of copper, "which may work hand in hand with zinc in cataract treatment."

MSM: Supplying the Sulfur Your Eyes Need
"The nutrient sulfur is considered one of the most important elements for good vision," says Dr. Grossman. He recommends getting your sulfur from the supplement MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) by taking >1 teaspoon of MSM powder per 100 pounds of body weight once a day. PAPAIN: Stop Protein Buildup
If you don't digest protein adequately, it can end up concentrated in the lens of the eye and possibly contribute to cataracts, says Dr. Grossman. The enzyme supplement papain (from papaya) helps digest protein. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label.

LIFESTYLE: These Changes Are Necessary
A number of lifestyle changes are musts if you want a nutritional program to be effective at slowing, stopping, or reversing cataracts. . Stop smoking. "Smoking creates more free radicals, which place a greater demand on the antioxidants and supplements to reverse the damage done to cells," says Dr. Paul.

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• Wear sunglasses outdoors. "Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a big factor in causing and worsening cataracts," says Dr. Paul.
• Eat more lightly cooked fresh vegetables. They're rich in eye-protecting antioxidants, and lightly cooking them won't deplete their nutrients. "Leafy green vegetables, like kale, spinach, parsley, and collards, and vegetables with lots of pigment, like tomatoes and carrots, are particularly good for your eyes," says Dr. Paul.
• Reduce saturated fats and fried foods. They increase the production of free radicals, "with the consequence being a greater incidence of cataracts, growing at a more rapid rate," says Dr. Paul.. Use a relaxation technique. Whether it's deep breathing or meditation, using a relaxation technique daily is a must for healthy eyes, saysDr. Huff.