Cataract
The lens of the eye is normally transparent. A cataract creates a cloudy or opaque area on the lens. As the cloudy area gets thicker, it prevents light rays from passing through to the retina, which is the light sensitive tissue on the back of the eye. This disease affect up to half of all Americans between the ages of 65 and 74.
Symptoms
Early cataract development may not be noticeable, but as it continues to thicken and change the lens, you may experience symptoms like blurry, cloudy, foggy, fuzzy or filmy vision; loss of color intensity; halos around lights; double vision; decreased contrast sensitivity; problems with glare from lamps or the sun; frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions and impaired night vision, especially when driving due to the glare from headlights.
Causes
Cataracts may be caused by family history, medical problems like diabetes, injury, previous eye surgery, medications like steroids or long-term unprotected exposure to bright sunlight.
Cautions
It is best to seek medical attention when you first notice cloudy or blurred vision, if you have problems with driving at night due to bright headlights, if you are bothered by the sun's glare or if you notice changes in the way you see colors. The sooner any problem associated with your eyes is diagnosed, the better.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Bilberry – this herb has long been used to treat eye problems. British pilots in World War II reported better night vision when consuming bilberries. It is reported that a combination of bilberry and vitamin E delays the progression of cataracts.
- Fennel – add a measure of fennel seeds to the same amount of coriander seeds and then add a small amount of brown sugar. Take 10 grams in the morning and evening to reduce cloudy vision.
- Anise – Take six grams of aniseed every day morning and night to protect the eye from becoming opaque. Alternatively, grind aniseed into a powder. Add an equal amount of powdered coriander seeds. Mix with an equal weight of unrefined sugar. Mix this up thoroughly. Take this powder in doses of 12 grams with water every morning and night when the problem begins to develop.
- Garlic – eat a few cloves of garlic every day. Chew on a clove early in the morning. The garlic juices help to remove the crystallization of the eye lens.
External Applications
The following are eye washes that have been associated with cataract treatment. Do not use if your eye is irritated by the treatment.
- Coriander – add a teaspoon of ground coriander to a cup of water. Bring this mixture to a boil. Let it cool and apply to the eyes on a regular basis. Coriander leaves can also be made into a decoction to be used as an eye wash several times per day.
- Parsley – take fresh parsley juice and mix it with an equal amount of carrot juice. Use this mixture as eye drops to maintain the health of the eyes.
- Honey – this remedy was used in ancient Egypt and still works today. Use fresh honey. Add two drops of raw honey to each eye to clear up the opacity of the eye.
- Triphala – in Ayurvedic medicine an eye wash of triphala tea is often recommended for cataracts. The tea is made from a powder from three Indian tree fruits and may be found in some natural health stores. Wash the eye in the steeped, cooled tea up to three times a day for the best results.