Eustis, Florida (PressExposure) May 11, 2010 -- What are cataracts? A cataract is when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque, this is called opacification. Light rays reflect from an object to the cornea (the outermost layer of the eye), through the lens (which focuses the rays), to the retina. The lens needs to be transparent to transmit light to the retina so with a cataract, vision is therefore impaired.
Cataract formation is a progressive disease, which can lead to extremely impaired vision, total blindness and lens or eye removal. There are various causes of cataract formation in animals like dogs and cats including: Genetics - some cataracts are inherited and occur more frequently in specific breeds of dogs and cats Congenital - some animals are born with cataracts Diabetes mellitus - only affects diabetic dogs, not diabetic cats Cataracts secondary to other eye diseases such as glaucoma Age related - senile cataract formation Nutritional disorders Trauma - eye injury
Treatment
Up until fairly recently, the only choice offered for the treatment of cataracts has been the surgical removal of the lens. This procedure involves the animal's defective lens being removed and replaced with an artificial lens. As with humans this is a very common surgical procedure (especially in dogs) but this evasive operation carries risks including:
Infection Damage to the structures surrounding the lens Glaucoma Complete blindness.
If the procedure is successful, the animal will have near normal vision but, of course, the capabilities of intraocular replacement lenses are limited. Nearly all animals will experience degradation in vision due to advancing age and certain scarring from the procedure.
Cataract surgery is expensive because it requires the skill of a veterinary ophthalmologist and the technical equipment and methods used are almost exactly the same as those used in humans. One major difference is that unlike humans most dogs (for example) do not have medical insurance that will cover any of the cost of the surgery, which ranges from $1500 - $300 per eye.
Preventing Cataracts
Recent studies have shown that nutrition plays and important role in preventing or delaying cataracts. It has been observed that certain natural antioxidants given to older humans and animals (dogs in particular) reduced age related cataracts. It has been generally agreed that the nutritional goals of humans should be shared with our pets.
In humans a high intake of fruit and vegetables has a protective effect on cataract. High intake of sugar and high glycemic carbohydrates increases the risk for cataracts. The Glycemic Index, or GI, refers to how quickly a food causes blood sugar to rise. High GI foods, like white bread, pasta, and potatoes, tend to cause a quick surge or a peak in blood sugar, while low-GI foods, such as pulses and many high-fiber grains, create a more gradual increase in blood sugar.
Those who eat lots of yellow or dark leafy vegetables, as well as foods rich in vitamin E, reduce their risk of developing cataracts. Higher intakes of vitamin C or the combined intake of antioxidants had long-term protective associations against development of cataract.
With this information in mind a recommended dose for pets with cataracts is 50 IU of vitamin E for every 10 pounds of weight once a day - add it to your pet's food. For vitamin C, give 100 mgs twice per day for every 10 pounds of weight. If possible use powdered vitamin C and add it to food. Vitamin C can cause diarrhoea so proceed with caution!
Add vegetables like carrots, kale and other green and yellow vegetables to your pets diet.
Try protecting your pet's eyes with bilberries. The antioxidant qualities of bilberries protect the tissue of the eye, especially when used in supplement form. In a human study, Italian researchers found that bilberry mixed with vitamin E stopped lens clouding in a large percentage of people with early stage cataracts. Mix 50 mgs in your pet's food every day.
One of the most exciting breakthroughs in recent years has been the development of Can-C eye drops for humans and dogs. These natural, lubricating eye drops contain the super-antioxidant N-acetylcarnosine which has been clinically proven to reverse cataract and prevent cataract formation. Can-C eye drops are a specific formulation which work in the part of the eye where needed to clear away age accumulated damage, thus leaving the eye free to begin self-healing. Please read more at http://www.can-c.biz or read the article published on this site at http://pressexposure.com/?id=134271