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What you need to know about cataracts

<p>As we age a number of people will suffer from cataracts, which Vision Australia describes as, “a clouding of the clear lens in the eye and is one of the leading causes of vision impairment.”</p> <p>While the most common form of cataract is associated with ageing, not everyone develops cataracts as they get older, however, everyone should be aware of the condition, its symptoms and who is most at risk. In some cases you can find out in advance if you’re at risk of developing cataracts and then find out how to keep it at bay, if possible.</p> <p>“There are a number of symptoms that can be experienced by those with cataracts, and signs which can indicate their presence,” Specsavers tell Over60. Here we’ve listed the most common ones.</p> <p><strong>Symptoms</strong></p> <p>In its early stages a cataract may not cause vision problems. However some of the common signs associated with advanced cataracts include:</p> <ul> <li>Blurred vision</li> <li>Hazy vision</li> <li>Glare sensitivity</li> <li>Distortion or double vision in the affected eye</li> <li>A feeling of looking through a veil or curtain</li> </ul> <p><strong>Those most at risk</strong></p> <p>Those most at risk include people who have:</p> <ul> <li>A family history of the eye condition</li> <li>Diabetes</li> <li>An injury to the eye</li> <li>Exposed their eyes to sunlight without protection over a long period</li> <li>Smoked for a period of time</li> </ul> <p>In any case, “A full eye examination is the best way to determine whether someone has cataracts and to eliminate more urgent causes of these or any other symptoms,” Specsavers caution, continuing, “If you experience any changes in vision you should visit your optometrist or medical practitioner.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Eye drops could reverse cataracts

<p>Those who suffer from cataracts will know the frustration that comes from this degenerative eye disease. Cataracts affect more than 20 million people worldwide and are caused when the lenses of the eyes lost their transparency. In exciting eye care news, a team of American researchers believe to have made a breakthrough in the treatment of cataracts, using eye drops to reverse cataracts altogether. Impressive.</p> <p>Researchers from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) have identified a new compound that is soluble enough to be administered via a simple eye dropper. What’s more, when tested on mice, results were seen in as little as two weeks.</p> <p>While cataracts are treatable, surgery can be uncomfortable and very expensive. Elderly people in developing nations are also affected by this disease, as many don’t have access to resources to treat it.</p> <p>Jason Gestwicki, associate professor at UCSF, says this finding has the potential to help millions of people, and potential lots of applications. "If you look at… the protein aggregates that cause cataracts, you'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart from those that cause Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Huntington's diseases," he said. "By studying cataracts we've been able to… show by proof-of-concept that these technologies could also be used in nervous system diseases.”</p> <p>Imagine treating Alzheimer’s Disease or eye issues with a simple drop. Well, it might not belong in the realm of imagination anymore. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/12/gene-therapy-breakthrough-hearing-loss/">Gene therapy breakthrough for treatment of hearing loss</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/11/how-often-should-you-get-your-eyes-tested/">How often should you visit your optometrist?</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/11/specsavers-spectacle-style-competition/">83-year-old crowned “Spectacle Wearer of the Year”</a></strong></span></em></p> <p> </p>

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You can cure cataracts with eye drops

<p>Cataracts are one of the primary causes of blindness, but a study has shown that they may be treatable with a simple solution: eye drops.</p> <p>A study, published in Nature demonstrated that a solution containing a natural steroid call lanosterol can effectively decrease cataracts in dogs.</p> <p>The research, led by the University of California-San Diego, worked based on the knowledge that cataracts develop when the structure of the lens’ crystalline proteins are disrupted and sequentially clumped. This causes them to grow cloudy, or creates what we know as cataracts.</p> <p>The eye’s lens contains a molecule called lanosterol, which is present in many natural steroids found in the body. The study discovered that children who had inherited cataracts all had a gene mutation that caused a blockage of this lanosterol synthase.</p> <p>In the study, researchers tested both human lens cells and live dogs and rabbits, giving them a solution containing lanosterol by either injection or eye drops.</p> <p>In all scenarios, the solution caused a significant decrease in protein clumping in the lenses.</p> <p>In conclusion, the researchers stated their findings:</p> <p>"Our study identifies lanosterol as a key molecule in the prevention of lens protein aggregation and points to a novel strategy for cataract prevention and treatment."</p>

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